Former Tenerife midfielder, Jesús 'Jesuli' Antonio Mora Nieto, has issued a statement via his legal representatives denying claims made yesterday by the 'El Mundo' newspaper that he and the rest of the squad accepted bribes to lose their final match of last season to ensure that their opponents, Málaga FC, secured promotion to the first division.

The player argues that, given that he was in Sevilla on the day in question recovering from a broken nose, it is "absurd" to claim that anyone should have paid him to influence the outcome of the game.

He goes on to say that the telephone conversation between himself and Real Sociedad president quoted in the article, Iñaki Badiola, was taken out of context and had been recorded and published without his permission.

Adding that he regards match-fixing as "inexcusable and wicked," the player's statement ends by saying that he is considering legal action against the journalist responsible.

Ex-Tenerife player admits match-fixing
By: thinkSPAIN
Monday, December 1, 2008

According to a report in today's 'El Mundo', Jesús Antonio Mora Nieto, better known as 'Jesuli', has admitted to Real Sociedad president, Iñaki Badiola, that he and the rest of the Tenerife players were each paid €6,000 euros to lose the final game of last season to ensure that their opponents, Málaga FC, secured promotion to the first division.

Málaga won the game 2-1 with Tenerife's only goal coming in the final minute when Welington put through his own net.

Numancia finished as champions with 77 points with Numancia and Sporting Gijón also going up with 72 points. Real Sociedad finished fourth with 68 points.