Former Osasuna director Ángel María Vizcay has been handed a prison sentence of eight years and eight months for his involvement in match-fixing during the 2013-14 season, according to Cope.
Former Real Betis players Antonio Amaya and Xavi Torres were handed one-year sentences for their involvement in two La Liga games. The first game was between Real Betis and Real Valladolid on matchday 37 and Osasuna versus Real Betis on matchday 38.
Vizcay along with four other club directors, who were also jailed, agreed on a deal with Betis for them to win their game against Valladolid and to let Osasuna beat them on the final day of the season.
A meeting was held in Hotel Melia, with Betis players Amaya and Torres receiving €650,000 to influence the matches in favour of Osasuna.
The players would receive €400,000 for beating Valladolid and €250,000 for losing to Osasuna. Both results went in Osasuna’s favour, however the club from Pamplona were still relegated on the final day of the season with results elsewhere seeing them go down to Segunda.
Current Osasuna president Luis Sabalza confirmed on the club’s website that he was pleased with the sentence and reiterated that his club had denounced the previous administration which led to them being convicted.
“We are happy. Osasuna were the ones who brought this case to the courts because when we arrived at the club we saw things which we didn’t like and I think the suspicions we had have been confirmed and the courts have done their job.”
Two real estate agents were also convicted for falsifying documents and were given prison sentences of nine months. Vizcay and the other jailed Osasuna directors were also ordered to reimburse the club €2,340,000 for the misuse of funds during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.
It’s the first time that prison sentences have been handed out for match-fixing in the history of Spanish football.
