Former Osasuna Executives Sentenced in Match-Fixing Scandal

More scandal has hit La Liga with the news that a former Osasuna director has been sent to prison amid a match-fixing investigation involving the Pamplona club. Txuma Peralta has been ordered to spend time behind bars, according to AS reporter Uxue M. de Zuniga.

The judge overseeing the investigation, Fermin Otamendi, had released a quartet of former club officials, including ex-president Patxi Izco, from behind bars. But now Peralta, along with Miguel Archanco, a former director, will be held ahead of further questioning.

Otamendi has set a €500,000 bail option for the pair's release. In the mean time, the investigation will continue, as it focuses on La Liga matches from the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

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Osasuna is alleged to have used financial incentives to influence the outcome of relegation battles. The club is accused of fixing a vital draw against Espanyol in the latter campaign, and offered fiscal rewards to determine other fixtures in their favour during the later stages of the previous season.

This is just the latest in a series of scandals involving clubs from Spain's top flight.

Barcelona are currently subjected to a FIFA-imposed global transfer ban, while others, including Real Madrid, are also having some of their previous transfers examined.

Osasuna's legal mounting troubles will only cast a darker shadow over Spanish football.