Atlético Madrid captain admits receiving money in relation to alleged match-fixing — reports

According to reports in Spain, Atlético Madrid’s captain Gabi has admitted to receiving money from Real Zaragoza while on loan with the club. The admission comes as Spanish anti-corruption prosecutors investigate allegations that Zaragoza fixed the last game of the 2010-11 season, when Gabi scored twice in a 2-1 win over Levante to ensure the club avoided relegation from La Liga.

According to the Mirror, suspicious betting patterns were identified after the game — which saw Zaragoza survive at the expense of Deportivo la Coruña — and an investigation by Spanish anti-corruption authorities has resulted in 20 players being called to give evidence. It has since been alleged that Zaragoza paid Levante’s players to throw the game. El Mundo are reporting that Gabi admits receiving €85,000 from the club’s then-president Agapito Iglesias, but that he claims to have returned the money later the same day, and that he was at all times under the impression that it related to the club’s own problematic financial status.

Other players involved in the game include Manchester United’s Ander Herrera and Swansea City’s Jefferson Montero. However, there has not been any suggestion that either Premier League player was involved in any wrongdoing, and Manchester United have issued a statement denying that Herrera has been summoned to give evidence. The trial is ongoing.