Former Real Betis players Antonio Amaya and Xavier Torres have been given one-year prison sentences as the Osasuna match-fixing case concluded, becoming Spain’s first successful sports corruption prosecution.
The players have been convicted for taking money to affect the result of two games in the 2013/14 season. Both Amaya and Torres, according to the court’s verdict, agreed to be paid €400,000 if they beat Real Valladolid, whilst being given an additional €250,000 for losing the last match of the campaign away to Osasuna.
In addition, Osasuna’s former general manager Angel Maria Vizcay has been convicted for eight years and eight months. The Provincial Court of Navarra concluded that Vizcay alongside ex-directors Miguel Archanco, Juan Antonio Pascual and Jesus Peralta made the deal with the Betis players in an attempt to avoid relegation in 2014, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.
The president of La Liga Javier Tebas, who took over the Spanish league in 2013, promised to clamp down on match-fixing in football and the organisation has hailed the prosecution as one step forward in the country’s battle against corruption.
Tebas stated: “La Liga is happy, not for the convictions of people, but because this is a move forward against corruption in football.”
In terms of other sentences handed out, ex-club treasurer Sancho Bandres and estate agents Albert Nolla and Cristina Valencia were also found guilty as the case concluded.
Meanwhile former Betis player, Jordi Figueras, has been acquitted over the charges placed on him over the match-fixing allegations.
Osasuna Foundation president Diego Maquirriain was also found not guilty during the trial as the country’s historic sports corruption prosecution came to a close.
