Japan coach Javier Aguirre on Saturday denied allegations that he was part of a match-fixing scandal that has rocked world football.
Prosecutors in Spain allege that Aguirre, 56, and 40 others were involved in rigging a league match that saw Real Zaragoza defeat Levante 2-1 to avoid relegation.
The former Mexico coach is due to appear in a Valencia court in February following a probe into the allegations dating back to 2011, when he was manager of Real Zaragoza.
“I spent 12 years with Spanish football. I have not been involved in anything that goes against ethics and professionalism,” Aguirre said through a Japanese translator at a press conference in Tokyo.
“I have not received anything. I have not asked for anything,” he said, vowing to cooperate with authorities.
Prosecutors allege that Zaragoza paid a total of 965,000 euros ($1.2million) into the bank accounts of certain of its coaches, staff and players who then gave the money to Levante’s players as a “bribe”.
The Japan Football Association (JFA) has said Aguirre will stay on for next month’s Asian Cup in Australia, despite the allegations. – Agence France-Presse
