2 former La Liga players sentenced for match-fixing

In the first successful prosecution for match-fixing in Spain, two former La Liga players have been handed a one-year prison sentence.

The two former Real Betis players, Antonio Amaya and Xavier Torres were convicted of fixing two games during the 2013-14 season, while five former Osasuna directors were also convicted.

“La Liga is happy, not for the convictions of people, but to see a move forward against corruption in football,” Spanish League president Javier Tebas said in a statement.

According to the ruling, then-Osasuna directors Miguel Archanco, Juan Antonio Pascual and Jesus Peralta, alongside the former general manager of the club Angel Maria Vizcay, had colluded with the two players to try to help Osasuna escape relegation from Spain’s first division.

The court found that the two players had agreed on a payment of €400,000 if they agreed to beat Osasuna’s relegation rivals Real Valladolid in the penultimate game of the season.

An additional payment of €250,000 was made to the former Real Betis players for losing the final game of the season against Osasuna. The last game of the season resulted in a 2-1 win to Osasuna, however, the side were still relegated as a result of other match outcomes.

Penalties ranged from eight years and eight months, handed to Vizcay for crimes of misappropriation, forgery, and corruption in sport. Meanwhile, Amaya and Torres were issued with one-year sentences for corruption in sport.