Manchester United star Herrera faces trial in match fixing scandal

Bengaluru, February 8: Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera is facing trial over claims he was involved in an alleged match fixing scandal during his time at Real Zaragoza in La Liga.

United ace Herrera, 28, has been dragged into a long-running investigation into claims a La Liga game between Real Zaragoza and Levante was rigged in 2011.

Investigators in Spain have spent over three years looking into the match at Levante – which ended in a 2-1 win for relegation threatened Zaragoza, keeping them in La Liga and sending Deportivo La Coruna down instead.

Herrera was a Zaragoza player at the time, and prosecutors in Spain believe some in the squad could have been party to a deal which allegedly saw cash payments made to Levante players.

The Spanish international, who strongly denies any wrongdoing, has been warned he faces being ordered to court to explain why he is said to have received two large payments from his club, which he is then said to have immediately paid back in cash to his bosses.

Herrera is one of 33 other players, including Atletico Madrid captain Gabi, linked to the case which investigators at Valencia’s Provincial Court want to bring to trial this summer.

Then Real Zaragoza manager Javier Aguirre also faces trial along with the club’s sporting director Antonio Prieto, who are both denying the allegations.

The big twist comes after a U-turn by Valencia-based investigating judge Isabel Rodriguez.

She had originally archived a long-running probe into Zaragoza’s 2-1 away win which kept the club in Spain’s top league.

The investigation was reopened following an appeal by state prosecutors, the Professional Football League and Deportivo, the club relegated after Zaragoza’s win.

At the time of the original claims, Herrera said: “I have never and never will have anything to do with the manipulation of the results of matches.

“If I am ever called to testify in a judicial hearing, I will be delighted to attend.”

There are claims anti-corruption prosecutor Alejandro Luzon had named Herrera as the recipient of two cash sums of £44,000 and £35,000.