Spain's anti-corruption authorities have "launched an investigation" into former Spanish second division side Osasuna President Miguel Archanco for "alleged match-fixing" toward the end of last season, according to José Félix Díaz of MARCA. Allegedly, about €1.5M ($1.7M) was spent by the club's previous regime to "guarantee that results went their way." However, the Osasuna allegations "go beyond match-fixing." Financial movements in Osasuna's bank accounts are also being investigated by the Spanish Football League (LFP) and anti-corruption authorities. No part of the investigation into Osasuna's financial affairs "has anything to do with the club's current board of directors." Up to "four matches are under investigation, but not all of them directly involved Osasuna," which at the time was "desperately trying to avoid relegation" (MARCA, 2/17). REUTERS' Iain Rogers reported La Liga side Espanyol and Osasuna have "denied wrongdoing" after media reports said their La Liga game at the end of last season was being investigated for alleged match-fixing. The game at Espanyol's stadium on the penultimate matchday ended 1-1, "with Espanyol taking a 21st-minute lead and Osasuna levelling a minute before halftime." The two rivals had reportedly "agreed beforehand on a draw." Osasuna was "subsequently relegated even though they won at home to Real Betis on the final day, while Espanyol finished just above the drop zone despite losing 3-1 at Real Madrid." Espanyol VP Rafael Entrena said, "We want to make it absolutely clear that RCD Espanyol of Barcelona has had no part in any matchfixing or any irregularity." Osasuna President Luis Sabalza, "who was not in charge of the club at the time," said that the club "was not aware of matches being bought." However, the club did admit it had been audited by Spain's Superior Sports Council (CSD) at the end of last year because of "unusual payments made in cash." Osasuna "did not say how much money was in question" but local media reported it was more than $2.3M. Osasuna Dir Pedro Baile: "Right now one thing is certain which is that a sum of money was paid out in cash. But to conclude that this money was used for a certain end, that is what needs to be proved" (REUTERS, 2/17). In Madrid, Juan Jiménez reported documents show that Osasuna has uncredited payments of €2.4M ($2.7M) that it annotates as follows: €900,000 ($1.02B) to two real estate agents, Cristina Valencia and Alberto Nolla; €1.44M ($1.64M) to the Flefield company and €76,611 ($87,400) to a player agent with the last name López. It is "unknown if this quantity had compensation linked to Osasuna or what its final destination was." The LFP is "investigating if these payments are related to suspected match-fixing" in the Espanyol-Osasuna game. The LFP "became concerned" about Osasuna when it noted various payments in cash in the club's accounts: €900,000 in June '13, €300,000 in Jan. '14, €375,000 in May '14 and €765,000 in June '14. League officials are "now studying whether to take Osasuna to court to get to the bottom of the payments" (AS, 2/17).
