TOKYO: Japan fired their national coach Javier Aguirre on Tuesday because of fears the Mexican’s alleged involvement in an ongoing match-fixing case could affect the team’s bid to qualify for the next World Cup.

Although Aguirre has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name after being embroiled in a Spanish anti-corruption investigation, the Japan Football Association (JFA) said they did not want any distractions for the team.

The move brings to an end the short and tumultuous stint in Japan for the 56-year-old, who was reportedly the country’s highest-ever paid national coach on an estimated $2.45 million annually, but under whom the Blue Samurai fizzled on the field.

“We have reached the decision to terminate the contract with coach Aguirre at this time,” Japan Football Association (JFA) president Kuniya Daini told a nationally televised press conference.

“We have come to the conclusion that we must avoid the risk that these things will affect the World Cup Asia qualifiers.”

Aguirre, who only signed on the dotted line last year to replace Alberto Zaccheroni of Italy, 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 which saw Zaragoza defeat Levante 2-1 to avoid relegation.

Spanish prosecutors claim that Zaragoza paid a total of 965,000 euros ($1.2 million) into the bank accounts of certain coaches, staff and players who then gave the money to Levante’s players as a “bribe”.

Published in Dawn February 4th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play