Javier Aguirre goes to trial for match size: I returned the money

Aguirre testified on Thursday in the judgment on the case that involves an encounter between Levante and Zaragoza at the end of the 2010-11 season.

Aguirre, at that time technical Saragossa, is one of more than 40 people who, if found guilty, could receive a penalty of two years in prison and a six-year suspension of football.

The prosecution said it has evidence that 965 thousand euros (about one million dollars) They were paid to the Zaragoza club and subsequently transferred to Levante players in exchange for they lost the match in the last round of that season.

Saragossa won 2-1 and avoided relegation, while the result caused the club Deportivo La Coruña lost his job in the highest division of Spanish football.

Former officials of Saragossa they have said that money was paid to motivate players and not to rig the outcome of the duel.

Aguirre and some of the players who have testified at the trial they denied the Zaragoza version that the money was granted as an incentive.

The technician said that He received a deposit without his consent and returned the money to the team because it was not part of his contract.

On the other hand, the players affirmed that the club He asked them to withdraw the deposited money to your accounts and return it in cash, which they claim to have done.

Between the 36 accused players are Ander Herrera, now a member of Paris Saint-Germain; Vicente Iborra, former Leicester midfielder; Gabi Fernández, former captain of Atlético de Madrid; the Argentine Leonardo Ponzio, River Plate flyer; Serbian defender Ivan Obradovic; Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo, currently in the Lazio club of Serie A in Italy; the Italian defender Maurizio lanzaro; and Uruguayan attacker Cristhian Stuani.

Herrera, Ponzio and Fernández They were among the players who testified on Thursday.

According to prosecutors, players from both teams were aware of the match size. The prosecution added that it has found evidence that the money was transferred to Levante players after reviewing the tax returns and bank transactions of that time.

A minor court had dismissed the case, but it was reopened after an art appeal by prosecutors in Valencia, where Levante is based and where the game took place.

If found guilty, defendants are unlikely to actually serve prison sentences because the authorities in Spain usually suspend those sentences of two years or less for those who receive sentences for the first time.

Saragossa He returned to the second Spanish division in 2014, while Levante currently competes in the League.