MADRID - SPAIN'S football federation wants two Spanish league matches played over the previous two seasons to be investigated for match-fixing.
Athletic Bilbao's match against Levante at the end of the 2006-07 season, and the second-division game between Malaga and Tenerife in the final round of last season are the matches in question.
Bilbao beat Levante 2-0 to avoid its first-ever relegation and send Celta Vigo down to the second division.
Malaga overcame Tenerife 2-1 to win promotion and end Real Sociedad's hopes of a return to the top flight.
'Anyone who has to investigate should do so and if they find out anything punishable then they should go ahead,' federation spokesman Jorge Carretero told Radio Marca.
'I don't like any of this and that is why it should be dealt with as soon as possible.'
'Spanish football is enjoying marvelous health. We should not get embittered.'
On Wednesday, the station Popular TV released a recording of an alleged conversation between Levante president Julio Romero and midfielder Inaki Descarga which concerned a payment some of the team were said to have received for throwing the match.
Romero said on Thursday that there had been no agreement with Bilbao. He also denied holding a conversation with federation president Angel Maria Villar, a former Bilbao player who Romero was alleged to have informed of the purported match-fixing.
'As a consequence of this, I wish to make it known that I have put this matter in the hands of my lawyers with the aim that they take the right legal action,' Romero added in a statement.
The federation's Competition Committee agreed Tuesday to send information about the Malaga-Tenerife game to Spain's State Prosecutor following a report in El Mundo newspaper.
The daily published a transcript of an alleged conversation between Sociedad president Inaki Badiola and former Tenerife player Jesuli Mora.
Jesuli, who did not play in the match, allegedly said he had been paid to allow Malaga to win. He reportedly intends to sue Badiola for recording their conversation. -- AP
