Football
ESPN staff 9y

Javier Aguirre denies matchfixing in Spain, wants focus on Asian Cup

Japan coach Javier Aguirre insists that Spanish football is clean and that he had no involvement in matchfixing while he was in charge at Real Zaragoza.

Aguirre was among 41 people named by Spain's anti-corruption prosecutor as a probe into Zaragoza's 2-1 win at Levante on the final day of the 2010-11 campaign -- that saw Zaragoza saved from relegation -- was opened. The prosecutor alleges that Levante's players were paid a total of 965,000 euros to deliberately lose .

The Japan Football Association have stood behind the man they appointed to replace Alberto Zaccheroni after the World Cup this summer, saying he will continue to be charge for for next month's Asian Cup in Australia.

Meanwhile, the Mexican wants to ensure that the probe will not impact Japan's preparations for the tournament as they look to defend their title.

"I worked in Spain for 12 years and I have never done anything unethical or unprofessional," Aguirre told reporters at the JFA's headquarters in Tokyo on Saturday.

"I would like to tell our supporters to stay calm during this investigation. We need their support to take the Asian Cup title. I will be concentrating and preparing for the Japan team to win the Asian Cup."

Aguirre, 56, added: "I will be cooperating with the Spanish authorities and seeing this case through to the end."

Japan play their first game against Palestine on Jan. 12 and also have Iraq and Jordan in their group.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

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