Deportivo captain Alex Bergantinos questioned by police after implying team won't play to win in rescheduled fixture

Madrid: Spanish police on Wednesday questioned a player who suggested in a leaked audio recording that his team may not play to win a rescheduled second-division match. Deportivo La Coruna captain Alex Bergantinos said he was asked by authorities to explain his comments in the audio released by Spanish media on Tuesday. His talk with police came two days before Deportivo — already-relegated — hosts Fuenlabrada in a final-round match rescheduled after Fuenlabrada players tested positive for the coronavirus. Bergantinos said in the recording, apparently sent to his teammates, that club lawyers advised the team to show up with at least eight professional players to avoid losing points, but that he didn’t know “what kind of game it would be,” or whether they would talk to Fuenlabrada players and maybe after “1-0 we just sit back, I don’t know.” Bergantinos said the audio should have stayed private and denied any attempt had been made — or was going to be made — to prearrange the result of the match. Fuenlabrada, who need at least a draw against Deportivo to reach the promotion playoffs, had forwarded the audio recording to local authorities, saying they were a victim. Elche are currently holding the final playoff spot.