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FOOTBALL

Spanish football federation launches match-fixing probe

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) launched a formal investigation on Wednesday over suspicions of match-fixing in third division side Eldense's 12-0 defeat to Barcelona B on Saturday.

Spanish football federation launches match-fixing probe
Photo: AFP

“This disciplinary body considers the initiation of disciplinary actions pertinent to discover the nature and scope of the events and, if necessary, the corresponding sanctions if justified,” the RFEF said in a statement.

The federation's competition committee will “initiate an extraordinary disciplinary procedure on Club Deportivo Eldense, as well as on each and every one of the players, coaches and delegates of the club”, the statement continued.

Five members of the club, including coach Filippo di Pierro, two players, another member of the coaching staff and an Italian investor, who recently became Eldense's major shareholder, have been arrested by police on suspicion of corruption.

Eldense player Cheikh Saad was the first to point the finger at a number of his teammates and coach after their record-equalling defeat in Spain's third tier Segunda Division B on Saturday.    

Saad told radio station Cadena Copa that certain players stood to make “huge sums” of money from bets placed on the match.    

Club president David Aguilar then reported his suspicions to police and Spanish football authorities.    

Di Pierro was appointed coach after an Italian investor took control of the club earlier this season with suspicions now raised over whether that investment was linked to illegal betting patterns.    

“At the very least we must investigate it because there are certain links to an Italian group that has the look of what may be indications of an international betting ring when it comes to fixing matches,” president of the Spanish league Javier Tebas said on Monday.

RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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