Spanish Federation launch probe into bribery allegations

The Spanish Football Federation is to investigate allegations made by Racing Santander forward Mario Regueiro that an attempt was made to bribe him before a Primera Liga game against Celta Vigo.

The Uruguayan international said that he had been offered money to ensure that his team lost a recent league game against relegation-threatened Celta.

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper German Burgos subsequently admitted that he had phoned Regueiro and jokingly made a proposal to throw the game saying that many of his friends played for Celta but denied that he had been serious.

The game, which was played on March 21, ended in a 4-4 draw and featured four penalties and two sendings off including that of Regueiro.

After examining Regueiro's allegations, the federation's disciplinary committee decided to appoint a judge to investigate the incident to see if Burgos had a case to answer.

"We will have to judge whether it was all a joke as Burgos claims," committee president Alfredo Florez said.

"If it was a joke we will have to evaluate the impact that such jokes can have. If, on the other hand, there was an attempt to bribe then it will be a very serious matter indeed."

Former Argentine international goalkeeper Burgos, who has lost his place in the Atletico first team following a lengthy thigh injury, will be free to continue playing while the investigation continues.

In the past similar investigations have taken between two and three months to complete.