Manchester United Player Set To Face Match Fixing Trial

Match fixing and corruption in all sport is the most important thing for authorities to stamp out. There aren't too many high profile cases of match fixing in football but one Manchester United player faces trial in Spain for it.

Wherever money is involved life is set up for people to try underhand tactics to make some, sport is no different and especially where it comes to match fixing and gambling.

There has been many examples of it in sport, especially in cricket where Hansie Cronje's case and the situation with three Pakistan cricketers in England on the 2010 tour are prime examples.

_{Check out some of the dodgiest wickets in cricket history, being investigated by the ICC:}

Football in Italy has had it's problems and now over 33 footballers in Spain face trial for a claim about match fixing in a game between Real Zaragoza and Levante from May 2011.

According to court reports from 2014 there was an alleged £848,450 payment paid to then Zaragoza manager Javier Aguirre as well as the club's sporting director and nine players.

Amongst those players set to be on trial is Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera with the Spaniard releasing a statement today protesting his innocence, saying:

"As I stated back in 2014 when this issue was raised, I have never had and never will have anything to do with to do with manipulating match results.

"If I am ever called to testify in a judicial hearing, I will be delighted to attend as my conscience is totally clear. I love football and I believe in fair play, both on and off the pitch."

Herrera could have to answer to a trial. Image: PA Images.

In 2014 Atletico Madrid midfielder Gabi, who played for Zaragoza in the game, admitted to investigators that he'd received a payment of £65,000 from the club and he'd paid it back to club president Agapito Iglesias but didn't know what the payment was for, saying, "I did what Agapito asked me."

The trial is expected to take place within the next six months with anyone found guilty facing six months to four years in prison. As reported by the Daily Mail sentences of less than two years are usually suspended by two years.

Topics: Football News, Manchester United, Ander Herrera, Premier League, Spain, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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