match-fixing scheme<\/a> that included former and current La Liga players.<\/p>\nAmong those arrested in the sting was former Real Madrid defender Raul Bravo. Authorities have recordings of Bravo meeting with Borja Fernandez, Valladolid\u2019s captain, prior to the Valencia-Valladolid match. Fernandez was arrested as well. Both men were released on bail.<\/p>\n
The investigation uncovered that matches in Spain\u2019s top three professional divisions were targeted, authorities said.<\/p>\n
In one instance, sportsbooks reported unusual activity as the betting handle for one second-division contest was 14 times the average amount for a similar match.<\/p>\n
In 2018, UEFA, European soccer\u2019s governing body, observed unusual betting patterns for a second-tier match between host Huesca and Gimnastic de Tarragona. By the time they played, Huesca had already secured promotion to La Liga while Nastic was fighting to avoid relegation and remain among the second-division teams. UEFA shared their findings with La Liga officials, who then shared their report with Spanish authorities.<\/p>\n
Nastic ended up pulling out a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal in the 72nd minute of the contest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Spanish authorities announced this week the creation of a commission that will work to stop match-fixing in the European nation\u2019s sporting events. Created by presidential order, the commission will include representatives from the country\u2019s gaming regulatory panel, national law enforcement, and the country\u2019s sports council. Outside stakeholders, such as officials from sports league and sportsbooks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":109412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,1074],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Allegations of La Liga Match Fixing Lead to Spanish Sports Commission<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n