Tuesday 2 December 2008

Jesuli Denies Match-fixing Allegation

A story has been brought to my attention that has been gripping Spain over the last 2 days and i felt it my duty to report it here as it involves Real Sociedad.

In Monday's edition of 'El Mundo' newspaper it reported that former Tenerife midfielder Jesús 'Jesuli' Antonio Mora Nieto has admitted to Real Sociedad president, Iñaki Badiola, that he and the rest of the Tenerife players were each paid 6,000 euros to lose the final game of last season to ensure that their opponents, Málaga FC, secured promotion to the first division. Málaga won the game 2-1 with Tenerife's only goal coming in the final minute when Welington put through his own net. Numancia finished as champions with 77 points with Numancia and Sporting Gijón also going up with 72 points. Real Sociedad finished fourth with 68 points.

This allegation was later backed up with an audio recording released onto the internet, in which Jesuli can plainly be heard in the following exchange:
Badiola: "How much would it cost? I mean, in your case you were paid to lose this match? It's just to know, I don't have any experience on this, how much did it cost for us not to get promoted?"
Jesuli: "I tell you, honestly ... that I don't remember. But ... it really annoyed me to take that money."
Badiola: "€5,000, €7,000?"
Jesuli: "Yes, around that. If it wasn't €7,000 it was €6,000."

Yesterday Jesuli issued a statement via his legal representatives denying the claims and argues that, given that he was in Sevilla on the day in question recovering from a broken nose, it is "absurd" to claim that anyone should have paid him to influence the outcome of the game. He goes on to say that the telephone conversation between himself and Real Sociedad president quoted in the article, Iñaki Badiola, was taken out of context and had been recorded and published without his permission. Adding that he regards match-fixing as "inexcusable and wicked," the player's statement ends by saying that he is considering legal action against the journalist responsible.

Badiola has since came out and spoken to Radio Marca and is in no doubt that the premium payment was arranged by the Malaga club hierarchy, comprising the Sanz family who once had control over Real Madrid. "We have nothing against the Malaga club, nor the city," he said. "But we believe that the Sanz family, especially Fernando and Lorenzo Sanz, are habitual crooks and cheats, and they're not fit to lead the club in this way."We hope that justice will be served and this is what we call for." Also he alleges that the premium payment took place with the "knowledge" of the players involved and that "all Tenerife players" received it.

Fernando Sanz has came out and denied the allegations after being called a criminal. "If in twenty-four hours Jesuli does not retract what he said then Malaga will submit a complaint," he declared. "Malaga have nothing to do with this and we will not allow anyone to place our club and squad in doubt." He also had something to say about the Real Sociedad president - "Their president is going above and beyond what should be doing," he said." He created false expectations there, and the bankruptcy administrators recommended that he not lead the club because it's heading towards disappearance. "This is just a smokescreen," he added, confirming that he is speaking to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to express his "deepest concern about this gentleman's behaviour."

Tenerife have come out fighting and reacted angrily to whats happening. They stated their "absolute shock" at allegations that they "neither admit to nor tolerate."Club president Miguel Concepcion further added that if Real Sociedad had any concerns then a courtroom is the correct place to raise them."The confidence of our board in the squad is total," he went on.He also spoke out on Badiola's accusation against Tenerife captain Juanma Delgado, who was fingered as the alleged ringleader on the Tenerife end."I hope he has evidence for that, because if he doesn't then this will be taken very badly."

I will continue to follow this story closely as it unfolds and will update when any new information is released.

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