According to an allegation by a former club secretary, Osasuna is accused of fixing football matches to avoid being relegated to the lower tier. This was revealed during court proceedings on January 21.
According to the former club official, Osasuna paid both Getafe and Real Betis players to throw matches during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. In addition, it was reported that they had paid Espanyol to play to a draw.
ÁngelVizcay’s testimony is part of an investigation run by Judge Fermín Otamendi which has led to charges against 11 men. This includes six former directors of Osasuna, three former Betis players, and two estate agents who are all accused of being involved in the scheme.
According to Vizcay, Osasuna officials paid win bonuses to players with Valladolid and Betis, accusations that former club President Miguel Archanco has vehemently denied. During his testimony, Vizcay alleged that €400,000 was paid in cash for Getafe to throw their contest to Osasuna in 2013. He further alleged that three players with Betis were paid €250,000 to deliberately lose their contest a year later.
In addition to these allegations, Vizcay testified that officials with Osasuna paid a €150,000 ($166,000) win bonus to Valladolid for them to beat Deportivo La Coruña and a win bonus of €150,000 for Betis to defeat Celta Vigo. He added that a payment of €250,000 ($277,000) was made to Espanyol to play to a draw giving both teams a point.
At the time, Deportivo and Celta were competing with Osasuna to avoid being relegated to the lower tier, falling from the elite Spanish league. Despite these alleged payoffs, Osasuna was still relegated to the lower tier.
During his testimony, Vizcay provided detailed information about payoffs, including the names of several who were involved. According to the former club secretary, payments were made on two separate occasions to three players in a garage in Seville. The three players – Jordi Figueras, Xavi Torres, and Antonio Amaya – are currently on trial.
Archanco has denied the allegations. He told the judge that he had never paid players to fix games, but did admit to paying players with Betis to beat Valladolid back in 2014. He stated that this was simply an incentive that would help Osasuna avoid relegation.
Currently, only the payments made to players with Betis are being adjudicated in this case. No word has been given as to when or if other charges will be levied in regards to the other allegations.
