During his epic feud with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte earlier this year, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho promised that he will never get in trouble for match fixing. It was a dig at Conte’s getting suspended for that very practice several years ago, although he was later cleared. While Mourinho won’t get in trouble for match fixing, the team player of the year award winner for his first United might.
Red Devils midfielder Ander Herrera could reportedly face a two year prison sentence, and a six year ban from the sport if found guilty of match fixing.
The Spaniard is accused of helping rig a match between Real Zaragoza and Levante in 2011.
The 28-year-old played for Zaragoza in that contest, who won 2-1, and thus avoided relegation on the final day of the season. Ander Herrera, who was consistently denied any wrong doing, is “among 36 players that Spanish state prosecutors want punished for alleged involvement in fixing a key league game.” (Daily Star)
Neither Herrera, nor his representation made any public comments on today’s news, but he did make the following statement in December of 2014, when the case was first filed in Spain.
“I have never had and will never have anything to do with manipulating match results. If I am ever called to testify in any judicial hearing, I’ll be happy to attend, as my conscience is totally clear. I love football and believe in fair play, both on and off the pitch.”
Herrera moved to United in the summer of 2014, but if found guilty, the ban would apply outside Spain.
A lower court in Valencia had dropped the case when it was found that there was insignificant evidence of criminal activity, but it was reopened last month after appeal.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.