Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera could end up in court following match-fixing allegations during his time at Spain.
Reports had emerged last week that the Spanish judiciary had reopened an old match-fixing case between Levante and Herrera’s former team Real Zaragoza that was played in 2011. Zaragoza won the match 2-1 and were thus saved from the clutches of relegation. Now the United midfielder has been accused of providing ‘inconsistent’ and ‘contradictory’ statements regarding the allegations.
Court documents show Herrera has admitted receiving two separate payments totalling £79,000 – four and two days before the allegedly match against Levante which Zaragoza won 2-1 and were thus eventually saved from the clutches of relegation[as reported by the Mirror].
The documents also show he denied ever seeing a payslip dated September 19, 2011, which prosecutors claim was drafted to legitimise the alleged bribes as bonuses.
The report states: ‘Ander Herrera denies having ever received money in cash from the club.
‘He says he never saw the payslip referenced in the files and handed the money from the bank transfers — €50,000 (£44,000) and €40,000 (£35,000) — in cash in an envelope to then-owner Agapito Iglesias at the entrance to the training ground changing rooms without anyone else being present.’
According to Spanish outlet Marca, prosecutors are expected to seek a two-year prison sentence and six-year worldwide ban for the Manchester United midfielder.
