Intro:

Japan coach Javier Aguirre on Saturday (27 December) rubbished allegations he was part of a match-fixing scandal which has rocked world football.

Script:

Javier Aguirre, the Head Coach of the Japanese football team, has protested his innocence in the Spanish match-fixing scandal.

Aguirre was one of 41 people named by prosecutors to a game that dates back to 2011.

Authorities in Spain are investigating allegations of fixing for a league game involving Levante and Zaragoza, whom Aguirre managed at the time.

Zaragoza won 2-1 at Levante, saving the club from relegation.

Yet at a press conference in Tokyo on Saturday, the national team's head coach professed his innocence....

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish/Japanese translation) Javier Aguirre, Japan coach: (dismissing allegations of match fixing against him in Spain)

"During the twelve years I have spent in the Spanish league, I never did anything unethical nor unprofessional. The only means that I know to win matches is hard work. I have never been given gifts by anybody and I never wanted them. I will co-operate with the Spanish prosecutors and defend myself until the end."

Despite reports he was to be sacked over the allegations, the Japanese Football Association has stood by Aguirre as he prepares the squad for next month's Asian Cup in Australia.

As champions, Japan will begin the defence of their Asian Cup title on 12 January against minnows Palestine.

Aguirre will hope his side can take the attention away from the off-field accusations by defending their Asian Cup title.