Getafe striker Jorge Molina has reacted angrily after being named as a participant in a match-fixing investigation. Getafe and Villarreal, both clubs in Spain’s top flight, have also denied any wrongdoing after reports in Spain suggested a game between the teams was part of a match-fixing investigation.
Getafe and Villarreal drew 2-2 in a game which was played at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on May 18, 2019.
Getafe needed to amass maximum points in the game to stand any chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
It was the final game of the season for both clubs.
According to El Pais, the game was being investigated by police as part of Operation Oikos, which is probing an alleged match-fixing group that was profiting from betting on games.
Getafe have now announced that they would consider legal action and have thrown their weight behind Molina.
Molina also took to social media to protest his innocence in the matter.
“Regarding the news that has been published about me, I want to say that I have no relationship, knowledge or implication,” he wrote on his Instagram page.
“It is in the hands of my lawyers and they will take the appropriate legal measures,” he said.
The two clubs also released official statements on Friday, rejecting the allegations, calling them harmful to the “essence of sport” and to the integrity of the clubs.
“Villarreal CF and its first team absolutely reject the accusations made in recent hours,” read the release from the Yellow Submarine.
“Both Villarreal CF and its first team want to underline that they absolutely reject the accusations made in recent hours and want to publicly deny in a categoric and emphatic way the alleged involvement in match-fixing during the match against Getafe.
“As previously expressed repeatedly, the club condemns this type of action which harms the essence of sport and competition, and stands by its principles of transparency, ethics, integrity and fair play as fundamental values within the entity’s philosophy.
“Villarreal CF will study and weigh up the possibility of taking legal action against this situation,” the Villareal statement concluded.
Getafe took a similar stance, with the club offering “its unconditional support to” Molina and saying the club regretted “the serious violation of his fundamental right to the presumption of innocence.”
“We want to spread a message of rejection and categorically deny any implication related to this matter,” the statement read.
“Getafe CF publicly condemns this type of conduct and will not tolerate its reputation being tarnished, nor will its integrity be doubted.”
