Two Spanish clubs, seven players in betting probe

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) is to investigate two second division clubs and seven professional players for possible match-fixing, one of the clubs concerned said Wednesday.

Gran Canaria-based Las Palmas said in a statement that it and Madrid-based Rayo Vallecano were the target of the probe, along with seven players who played in the second division last year who are suspected of betting on the outcome of matches.

In June the two teams played an end-of-season match that ended in a goalless draw thus allowing Las Palmas to avoid relegation. The tame performance of both sides raised eyebrows in the media.

The RFEF announced late Tuesday it would open an investigation into this match as well as into several players from other clubs, which it did not name after being alerted by UEFA authorities.

Las Palmas said of the seven players under investigation only goalkeeper Javier Lopez Vallejo is currently playing in the first division. He plays for Real Zaragoza, who gained promotion to the Spanish top-flight at the end of last season.

The other players are Francisco Suarez and Javier Monteys of Gramenet, Mario Gomez of Alcorcon, Juan Carlos Ceballos of Cordoba, Raul Lucha Hurtado of Amposta, and Francisco Medina Luna of Rayo.

Last month a German police investigation alleged that more than 200 football matches in nine European leagues might have been fixed in what UEFA described as the continent’s biggest match-fixing scandal.

Rayo Vallecano are currently in fifth place in the Spanish second division while Las Palmas are in 15th place.