Spanish court clears 36 players in match-fixing case

A Spanish court cleared 36 players of wrongdoing Monday in a high-profile match-fixing case related to a 2011 game between Real Zaragoza and Levante. judge dismissed allegations match had been fixed, citing a lack of evidence, and cleared over 40 people accused of sporting corruption. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ander Herrera, Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, and former Atletico Madrid captain Gabi Fernandez, all at Zaragoza at time, were among defendants in a trial that began in September.

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match on final day of season was won 2-1 by Zaragoza which spared club from relegation to second division. But it triggered an investigation by Spain's anti-corruption prosecutors' office over suspect payments to playing staff and coaches. Prosecutors suspected Zaragoza deposited 965,000 euros ($1 million) in bank accounts of some of ir players and coaching staff so that y, in turn, could bribe Levante players to deliberately lose game.

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However, at end of trial, only ex-Zaragoza president Agapito Iglesias and his former financial director Javier Porquera were convicted of fraud. y were given 15-month jail terms although are unlikely to face prison as sentences of up to two years are generally t enforced in Spain for first-time offenders in n-violent crimes. An investigating judge had shelved long-running probe into match in 2017 but case was reopened following an appeal by state prosecutors, Spanish League and Deportivo La Coruna, club relegated as a result of Zaragoza's win. 

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