LONDON: Spanish media sources have confirmed that authorities investigating a match-fixing scandal are looking into a match involving Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez.
Operation Oikos was launched to investigate corruption in football involving both the La Liga and Segunda leagues. In the aftermath, a series of players and officials have been arrested or questioned by police. The investigation is focused around irregular betting patterns concerning Valencia CF, Huesca, Nastic and Real Valladolid.
Former football player Carlos Aranda is one of those who have been charged. It has since emerged that one of Aranda’s phone conversations involved a doubles match at Wimbledon in 2017. Where the Lopez duo lost 6-3, 6-7, 2-6, 4-6, to Patrick Smith and Matt Reid. After taking the first set, the price of the match was at it’s highest price for Reid and Smith to win.
Newspaper El Confidential, claims to have access to the ongoing case that has mentioned the two tennis players. Police have concluded that Aranda had ‘information on top sporting events.’
“In the match are two people of great prestige at the sports level such as Feliciano López Díaz-Guerra and Marc López Tarrés.” El Confidential quoted the report as saying.
Furthermore, a snippet of a conversation between Aranda and an unnamed individual before the Wimbledon match has also been released.
Aranda: “I have information about a game, do you want it?”
Another person: “Yes, man, of course, if you can.”
Aranda: “You can put whatever you want, it’s Wimbledon, the kid!”
Aranda ends the conversation: “What Feliciano Lopez loses and his partner, is doubles.”
Neither player has been found guilty of any wrongdoing at present and there is currently no indication that the Tennis Integrity Unit is involved. Feliciano also withdrew from a singles match injured the day before his doubles loss.
Publication Diario AS has since contacted Marc, who has denied any involvement in match-fixing. In a statement, he said “We have nothing to do, they have no right to dirty our names like that” before confirming that he is taking legal action.
This week Feliciano is player at the Fever-Tree Championships. He has teamed up with Andy Murray in what will be the Brit’s first professional competition since undergoing hip resurfacing surgery.
Feliciano is yet to comment on the matter.
