World Cup 2018 bribe: El Salvador claim they refused cash to fix qualifying match against Canada
Secret recording reveals attempt to rig match in CONCACAF group stages
EL SALVADOR claim they have refused an attempt to fix the result of their World Cup qualifying clash with Canada.
The Central American country say they were approached with the offer of a bribe to rig the result of the CONCACAF Group A match due to be played today.
Team members have released secret audio claiming to be someone asking them to lose the game, with players standing to make up to 2,700 US dollars each.
El Salvador cannot progress into the final round of qualifying for Russia 2018, but Canada must win today and hope Mexico beat Honduras to stand any chance of progressing.
The claims centre on an alleged meeting with Salvadoran businessman Ricardo Padilla, where he said he was offering a cash incentive on behalf of a Honduran millionaire.
Padilla refused repeatedly refused to reveal the identity of his backer under questioning from the El Salvador players.
The squad made it clear they were not interested in taking any money, made it clear they would do everything they could to win for the country.
They then went public with the audio of the meeting, which is alleged to have taken place last Saturday, at a united press conference.
El Salvador captain Nelson Bonilla said: "In reference to what we heard, we want to make it clear that we are against anything of this kind.
"We want to be transparent about everything that has happened with the national team."
Businessman Padilla has been quoted in Salvadoran press defending his offer and claiming he had done nothing wrong.
He said: "Let them investigate, I'm not worried.
"Those who want to see it as something ban can see it that way, and those who want to see it as something good, then they can too."
The translation of the alleged conversation is as follows:
Ricardo Padilla : The first proposal is: $ 30 per minute game played and won. That adds up to 2,700 if you play the 90 minutes. If you play 50 minutes they are 1,500; if they play 60 minutes they are 1,800.
Do you understand? So I paid the Alliance and this is the same. Okay? They understand it?
The second is $ 20 per minute played and tie game. If someone plays 90 minutes and tied the game are 1,800 (dollars). And I can ask where they want, in banks, in the police, the prosecution, wherever they want. I am not one who walks lying to anyone.
If someone plays 50 minutes are $ 1,000 and to play the other 40 will touch $ 800. I am clear?
The third, if they lose 1-0 are $ 15 per minute played. Is that clear? If you lose 2-0 give nothing, nothing, I mean? I mean, it is designed in that way so that even if you are losing 1-0 endeavor not turn up the score, know what I mean?
We do not want is that they go for a win, we want to avoid that for the sake of the country, proud of you, by the pride of all Salvadorans ...
Player 1: I do not know if you agree ...
Player 2: I have a question, we are doing this favor to Honduras or your friend?
Padilla : um He is not a member of the selection of Honduras.
Player 2: Because it makes me weird. You say that if we put more than one goal not give us anything ...
Intangible : They are paying to get a positive result, virtually
Player 3: If we are being frank, why not mention the name of his friend, for one know so, because remember the things that have happened here
Padilla : Anything arréglense me. For me they can go to the prosecution ... I can not tell you the name because in the first place does not serve anything, secondly I'm not authorised to tell you either.
But practically this is like he said ... it's practically a favour for the selection of Honduras. And I'll explain why. Honduras takes you five goals advantage the selection of Canada, are we clear?
But you have to play Honduras in Mexico. If they beat Honduras 3-0 in Mexico and you win them 3-0, classifies Canada, is that clear?
So that's why they are offering for the win, a draw or 1-0, thinking that perhaps this them they can score a 3-0 in Mexico. But this is not the Federation of Honduras, has nothing to do.
Player 4: And the name can not give?
Padilla : But to you what they are going to serve?
Player 4: To know more or less who this person
Padilla : Write my name
Player 1: you already know, but do not know the number ...
Padilla : But I'm going to pay. That's no problem.
Player 2: What happens and I think here is that most panics by what happened and nobody wants ...
Padilla : No wait. It is that match - fixing is when you get paid, but there is nothing of that.
Player 4 : But you say that if we lose 1-0 we still pay, are gaining them.
Padilla : That 's why I made the explanation of the goals, know what I mean? They think so: with 1-0 win to you and classifies Honduras Honduras lost 3-0.
Player 2 : But why not even? Why it is not even for those who do not play?
Padilla : Look, the offer is not mine. If you want to give money and want to accept, accept it, if you do not want no problem.
I came to talk to you if you are interested, this sure that you are interested in money, in this world there is no one who is not interested in money, it is rare who is not interested ...
But it wanted to make a Please do not accept it but if no problem, what I'm doing is legal, if they want to call the police, the prosecution, whom you want.
Player : It 's like I mentioned it to him, this is something to win, we are thinking about winning ...
Padilla : A person betting tells them exactly what you want, as I said before the Salvadorans, "you have to lose both", but here no one is betting, there is nothing is nothing.
Player 2: It is doing what I said, is doing a favour to Honduras ...
Padilla : He or is doing for the selection ... He's a millionaire guy, do not go thinking it's because he wants to earn ten pesos, he has money. Possibly do it for love of country.
Player 1 : Here everyone speak
Player : I will not pointed.
Padilla : If you do not want to do
Player 4 : Your friend tell her to stay quiet, we want to close this with dignity, we have thought only about winning, and unfortunately yesterday (Friday against Mexico) did not reach us.
But do not worry, we will give our best, like we were playing qualifying.
Padilla : Okay, but I have a question. And why belittle money?
Player : As given before, someone may misinterpret
Padilla : What is the number of the president of the Santa Tecla (José Vidal Hernández)? Can I call you...
Player : No need, it will not change what I think.
Padilla: If not for that, it is for individuals to tell you that this is not illegal
Player 2: Not that we are wary, but everyone says what he feels. Most think it is not agreed to receive this incentive, although we had never crossed the mind losing.
Padilla: If that everybody knows. You always have to keep in head play with dignity, love for the colors, but if I offer something extra and anyway I shall endeavor, where evil is?
Player: I do not know you gonna tell you, but to me or make me 2,500 pesos richer or poorer. If I think it's something ...
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Padilla: Own absolutely right, but the only thing is that for some serve
Player 5: To start or is the other group.
Padilla: You know where I was when I Montes took me to the Alliance? In jail and I went to check out. When you see the "Mute" tell him I said so.
To me no one can accuse me of anything. I do not get with federative or with half the world.
Player 2: Thank you for the time it took to come to make the proposal, but no one accepted. Tell your friend to be quiet, we will do our best to win.
Padilla: No problem, it 's a matter of you.