MADRID: Players at Spanish Second Division side Tenerife on Tuesday denied allegations they had accepted bribes to lose a key match last season.

"This accusation is totally false. We had nothing to do with this affair," the team said in a statement read out by captain Cristo Marrero.

"At no time will we leave any doubt as to our pro fessionalism."

A former Tenerife player, Jesus Mora Nieto, known as Jesuli, said he received around E6,000 (RM 27.5 million) to ensure the club lost a match on the last day of last season that allowed opponents Malaga to win promotion to the First Division, the newspaper El Mundo said Monday.

He made the allegation in a taped conversation two weeks ago with Inaki Badiola, president of Real Sociedad, who failed to win promotion due to Malaga's victory. -- AFP