Japan sack national coach Javier Aguirre amid Spanish match-fixing case
Spaniard under a cloud over allegations of dodgy results in his time at Real Zaragoza
Japan on Tuesday sacked coach Javier Aguirre, amid claims he was involved in match-fixing during a previous tenure in Spain.
The move brings to an end a short and tumultuous period in Japan for the 56-year-old Mexican, who was reportedly the country's highest-ever paid national coach on an estimated US$2.45 million, but under whom the Samurai Blue fizzled on the field.
We came to think that we must avoid risks that these things will affect the World Cup Asia qualifiers
"We have reached the decision to terminate the contract with coach Aguirre at this time," Japan Football Association [JFA] president Kuniya Daini said. "We came to think that we must avoid risks that these things will affect the World Cup Asia qualifiers."
Aguirre, who only signed on the dotted line last year, has been under a cloud since claims emerged that he had been involved in fixing results when he was manager of Spanish side Real Zaragoza.
He is due to appear in court this month in Valencia, Spain, to answer charges that he and 40 others rigged a 2011 league match that saw Zaragoza beat Levante 2-1 to avoid relegation.
Spanish prosecutors claim that Zaragoza paid a total of €965,000 (HK$8.5 million) into the bank accounts of certain coaches, staff and players who then gave the money to Levante's players as a "bribe".
Aguirre has denied wrongdoing, leaving the JFA squirming as the controversy overshadowed Japan's unsuccessful defence of their Asian Cup title.