El Salvador Suspends 22 Players In Match Fixing Scandal

FILE - In this June 5, 2011 file photo, Mexico's Israel Castro, left, and El Salvador's Rodolfo Zelaya fight for the ball during the first half a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. El Salvador's football federation announced on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013 it has suspended 22 of their players, included Zelaya, in an investigation into alleged match-fixing in games by the national team from 2010 to 2012. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade, File) (A2011)

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – El Salvador's soccer federation suspended 22 players -- half of those subject of a raid -- in an investigation into alleged match-fixing by the national team, including games against the United States and Mexico.

Public prosecutors said the raids took place in six cities. Federal prosecutor Luis Martinez told Radio Nacional de El Salvador that computers, electronic tablet devices and cell phones were among the items seized. He said authorities will also try to gain access to the bank accounts of those involved, both locally and abroad.

The prosecutor said there was already evidence of at least three offenses, including money laundering, and warned that not only players could be charged.

"Possibly there are officials and some high-level people involved," Martinez said. "We are going to get to the bottom of it."

He said the investigation is separate from the one started by the local federation, which on Wednesday said the players who participated in the suspect matches will be suspended for 30 days while the allegations are investigated.

"This is not a punishment, these are provisional, precautionary measures," Federation President Carlos Mendez Cabezas said.

CONCACAF, the sport's continental governing body, said it was "deeply saddened" by the "claims of match manipulation."

"The confederation fully supports the football federation of El Salvador and other pertinent organizations involved in the above mentioned investigation and hopes for a fair due process in order to determine the validity of these accusations," it said in a statement.

The regional body added that the fight against match-fixing was paramount.

"It is our duty to fight against organized crime alongside all stakeholders involved," CONCACAF said.

Mendez Cabezas said the games under scrutiny include El Salvador's 5-0 Gold Cup loss to Mexico on July 5, 2011, as well as a 2-1 loss to the United States on Feb. 24, 2010, a 1-0 loss to D.C. United on July 19, 2010, and a 4-1 loss to Paraguay on Feb. 6, 2012.

He said FIFA has been notified so that the suspensions could be extended internationally. He also said El Salvador will play no more games until the probes into the matches are completed.

Martinez said he has already sought collaboration from authorities in other countries where match fixing has taken place.

The suspended players are: Mardoqueo Henriquez, Luis Alonso Anaya, William Osael Romero, Ramon Alfredo Sánchez, Christian Castillo, Eliseo Quintanilla, José Miguel Granadino, Miguel Montes, Dagoberto Portillo, Rodolfo Zelaya, Victor Turcios, Carlos Romeo Monteangudo, Dennis Alas, Jose Alfredo Pacheco, Marvin González, Carlos Carrillo, Darwin Bonilla, Rodrigo Alejandro Martínez, Reynaldo Hernández Villeda, Ramon Flores, Benji Villalobos and Emerson Umana.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.