BARCELONA, SPAIN (AP) - The Spanish soccer league is investigating a game between first division teams Levante and Deportivo La Coruna for possible match-fixing.
League spokesman Juan Carlos Santamaria confirmed Spanish media reports to The Associated Press on Friday that the league was examining Deportivo’s 4-0 win at Levante on April 13.
Following the loss, Levante forward Jose Barkero apparently accused some of his teammates of a lack of effort in the match. He later publicly retracted his accusations.
“I only want to make public what I have told my teammates,” Barkero said at a news conference on Wednesday. “I asked them for forgiveness. … I am the one who was wrong. I accused them of something that didn’t really happen.”
Levante issued a statement on its website saying it will “help and collaborate with any investigation.”
Deportivo coach Fernandez Vazquez said “our conscience is clean.”
Match-fixing is a crime in Spain and can lead to prison time for individuals or expulsion of a club from official competition.
Deportivo is in a fight to avoid relegation. Stuck in last place in Spain’s first division last month, it started a four-game winning streak that ended with the lopsided victory at Levante. Deportivo has since tied two more games and currently is one point above the relegation zone with five games left.
Levante, meanwhile, has lost four straight games, its worst run in two seasons under coach Juan Ignacio Martinez.
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