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PARALYMPICS

Nine Spanish clubs in match-fixing probe

The former head of security at FIFA is to work with Spanish football chiefs as they try to rid the sport of match-fixing, it was announced in London on Wednesday.

Nine Spanish clubs in match-fixing probe
Deportivo de la Coruña and Levante are two of the teams being investigated for match-fixing after one of the players from the Valencian team spoke out about the scandal. Photo:Jose Jordan/AFP

Spain's Liga Nacional de Futbol Professional (LFP) and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) said they'd signed a partnership agreement "with a specific focus on issues of match-fixing".

Chris Eaton, the former head of security at FIFA, football's world governing body, is now the director of sport integrity at ICSS and will head up their end of the partnership with the LFP.

In August, the president of the Spanish league said nine matches were currently being investigated on suspicion of possible match-fixing, including three in La Liga — the top division — with the other six in the second tier.

Two of the suspected matches — Girona v Xerez and Hercules v Racing Santander — were already being examined by Spanish courts.

Javier Tebas added "match-fixing is a cancer we must eliminate".

Match-fixing is a crime in Spain and can lead to prison sentences for individuals or a club being banned from official competition.

"Sports integrity is an absolute priority for the Liga Nacional de Futbol Profesional and match fixing has been on my agenda since I became president," Tebas said in Wednesday's joint statement with ICSS.

"My aim is to find adequate solutions to reduce this phenomena and as such, we are dedicated to collaborate and act together with organisations such as the ICSS to enhance the fight against match fixing," he added.

ICSS describes itself as "a Qatar-based international not-for-profit institution that aims to help event organisers to stage safer major sporting events."

Eaton, speaking at the Leaders in Football conference in London, said: "We admire the LFP's commitment to preserving integrity in sport and to ensuring that match-fixing is stamped out.

"It is important that football continues to be vigilant and develop strong policies that safeguard sport integrity.

"Our teams of experts in this field look forward to working with the LFP to support its ongoing endeavours to promote integrity."

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SPORT

Italy scoops first Paralympic gold medal

Swimmer Federico Morlacchi has won the first gold for Italy at the 2016 Paralympics.

Italy scoops first Paralympic gold medal
Federico Morlacchi. Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP

His medal is also Italy's 500th at the Paralympic games.

After winning silver in the 400m freestyle (S9), Morlacchi scooped gold in the 200m individual medley (SM9) on Sunday, his time of 2:16:72 allowing him to beat Hungarian Tamas Sors and Australian Timothy Disken.

“This is the top of the world,” Morlacchi said, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. “I had fun. I haven't really realized what I have done yet.”

He celebrated by punching the water and blowing a kiss to his supporters in the stands, but said that he never cries at a win. “My job is to make others emotional.”

The president of Italy's Paralympics Committee, Luca Pancalli, said: “I'm indescribably happy. Federico deserves everything, he's a phenomenal guy. This medal was a masterpiece.”

It was the fifth Paralympic medal of his career for 22-year-old Morlacchi, who is from the Varese region and went home from the 2012 games in London with three bronze medals.

The S9 category is for athletes with “severe weakness in one leg” and Morlacchi has hypoplasia (incomplete tissue development) in his left leg. He initially took up swimming for rehabilitation as a young child.

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