London: Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has said his “conscience is totally clear” and denied any involvement in match fixing after an anti-corruption public prosecutor named him among the 41 people charged for fixing a game between Real Zaragoza and Levante in May 2011.

“I have never had and will never have anything to do with manipulating match results,” Herrera said in a statement on Facebook. “In an on-going legal process involving Real Zaragoza (Spain), the club I was honoured to play from 12 until 22 years of age, there are 41 people mentioned, of which I am one.

“If I am ever called to testify in any judicial hearing, I’ll be happy to attend, as my conscience is totally clear. I love football and I believe in fair play, both on and off the pitch.”

The public prosecutor Alejandro Luzon filed charges with the courts in Valencia on Monday, accusing the 41, plus Real Zaragoza as an institution, of conspiring to ensure that Zaragoza defeated Levante, thus avoiding relegation, on the final weekend of the 2010-11 season. Every single player involved in the match has been named in the prosecution’s case.

Luzon has accused Zaragoza of paying 965,000 euros to Levante’s players to throw the game. The money was allegedly paid by the club into the accounts of nine Zaragoza players plus the then manager, Javier Aguirre, and the sporting director, Antonio Prieto. The public prosecutor accuses those 11 of then withdrawing the money in cash to pay their opponents. The club maintains that the payments were bonuses given to their own players.

Herrera is accused of receiving two payments, of 50,000 euros and 40,000 euros respectively. But although every player has been cited, not all of them have been accused of actively conspiring to fix the game.

The public prosecutor’s report accuses the Zaragoza president, the directors Paco Checa and Javier Porquera, Prieto and the three club captains – Gabi, Ponzio and Jorge Lopez – of organising the fix. Other players, including Herrera, are accused only of knowing about it.

The Manchester United midfielder was swift to deny any involvement on Tuesday. The Swansea City winger Jefferson Montero was also among the 41 named. A Swansea spokesman, asked about the news, said: “We have had no contact from anyone regarding the matter.”

Herrera joined United from Athletic Bilbao for $36 million this year.

Meanwhile, the latest twist in the investigation has left the Japanese Football Association and Aguirre in an awkward position with the Mexican’s future unclear less than a month out from their Asian Cup title defence.

Aguirre has repeatedly denied the claims, and on Monday said he was not concerned about the long-discussed case after naming his 23-man squad for the Jan. 9-31 tournament in Australia. (Agencies)