Atlético Madrid captain Gabi Fernández has "admitted involvement in the fixing" of a La Liga match at the end of the '10-11 season, according to the London TELEGRAPH. The match being investigated is Real Zaragoza's 2-1 win over Levante at the end of that season. Gabi, who led Atlético to the Spanish league title last season, "made the apparent admission at an appearance on Thursday before prosecutors in Madrid." A report in Barcelona's Mundo Deportivo on Thursday said that Gabi had admitted "being part of a conspiracy to fix the match and had told prosecutors he was doing 'what the club asked me.'" It is "not clear exactly what Gabi's alleged involvement was and he declined to provide further details" (TELEGRAPH, 10/2). In Madrid, Juan Jiménez reported Thursday’s declarations from Zaragoza players are "expected to be followed by those of implicated Levante players on Friday." Certain players have a "special dispensation and are expected to testify" on Monday. In total, 20 players have been summoned by the Anti-Corruption prosecuting attorney, who has detected "serious indications of possible fraud surrounding the game." Also summoned to declare are "back-room staff from Zaragoza (but not Levante), directors from the time, and even the kit-man." One of the "sources of the investigation surrounds the movement of monies to the Zaragoza players' accounts." They allegedly received €120,000 ($152,300) as "prize money" from former Zaragoza Owner Agapito Iglesias, who "allegedly withdrew these funds to pay certain Levante players for letting his team win the game in question." The public prosecutor will "first listen to declarations but it is anticipated that a formal lawsuit will ensue" (AS, 10/2).
