Confusion at Old Trafford as Man United star midfielder faces huge match fixing probe

macfranc007 February 08, 2018 IFTTT, Latest Sport News | Today on Naij.com Arinze Esomnofu

- Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera is facing trial over claims he was involved in an alleged match fixing scandal

- Herrera dragged into an ongoing investigation that a La Liga game between Real Zaragoza and Levante was rigged in 2011

- The Spaniard has denied any involvement in the allegations and pledges his commitment in helping the authorities

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera is facing trial over claims he was involved in an alleged match fixing scandal.

The 28-year-old has been dragged into an ongoing investigation that a La Liga game between Real Zaragoza and Levante was rigged in 2011.

Investigators in Spain have spent over three years looking into the match at Levante – which ended in a 2-1 win for relegation threatened Zaragoza, keeping them in La Liga and sending Deportivo La Coruna to the Segunda division.

Zaragoza who was a player at the time had prosecutors in Spain believing someone in the squad could have been party to a deal which allegedly saw cash payments made to Levante players.

The United midfielder, who strongly denies any wrongdoing, has been warned he faces being ordered to court to explain why he is said to have received two large payments from his club, which he is then said to have immediately paid back in cash to his bosses.

Also included as a suspect in the ongoing at the case is Valencia’s Provincial Court Atletico Madrid captain Gabi as well as 33 other players.

The bombshell news comes after a U-turn by Valencia-based investigating judge Isabel Rodriguez.

She had originally archived a long-running probe into Zaragoza’s 2-1 away win which kept the club in Spain’s top league.

At the time of the original claims, Herrera said: “I have never and never will have anything to do with the manipulation of the results of matches.

“If I am ever called to testify in a judicial hearing, I will be delighted to attend.”

Reports in Spain say the main basis for the reopening of the case was the £858,450 Zaragoza allegedly paid into the accounts of Aguirre, Prieto and nine of its footballers days ahead of the match on May 21, 2011.

Searches of the accounts of Levante stars at the time are also said to have shown players made scarce use of bank accounts and credit cards in the weeks afterwards.

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Investigators suspect the Zaragoza players returned the cash deposited in their accounts to club managers so it could be passed on to the Levante players.

There are claims anti-corruption prosecutor Alejandro Luzon had named Herrera as the recipient of two cash sums of £44,000 and £35,000.

United are aware the trial has been re-opened after initially being 'archived'.

They say Herrera's position has not changed since his original statement, that he completely denies and wrongdoing, and will happily attend court if called.

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