Aday Benítez, a former Girona player, recently recounted a troubling incident from the late 2016-17 season. He spoke on Cadena SER about a person who tried to persuade him to accept a bribe by offering up to 50,000 euros in exchange for throwing a match. Benítez described feeling unsettled and fearful as the offer was presented, noting that the situation was irregular and hard to ignore.
LaLiga’s response came quickly
The events unfolded on the final day of the 16/17 season, a moment that naturally stirred debate across Spanish football. After hearing Benítez’s account, LaLiga filed a formal complaint within hours and promptly reported the matter to the National Police Center for Integrity, Sport, and Games of Chance to seek clarification and investigate the facts.
“I don’t even know who the person was”
Speaking to Cadena SER, Benítez clarified that no Girona or Tenerife team had offered him money to throw a game. He did emphasize that the bribe attempt came from an individual he has not seen since, adding, “I don’t even know who the person is, I don’t remember his face.”
“If you want more details, I can come back,” the offer suggested
Despite Benítez making clear his refusal, the person who approached him left the door open for a second meeting to discuss a possible resolution. Benítez recalled being polite but clearly unsettled by the encounter: “I told him I was not the person to be convinced, but the situation scared me. There was nothing more I could do with the information they had shared with clubs to raise the alarm.”
Córdoba-Girona and questions about gambling
The alleged incident was linked to the Córdoba-Girona match. Benítez stated that there was no insinuation of fixing the game on either side: “Neither we, nor Córdoba, fixed anything. The subject did not merit further attention in my view.” When asked whether he suspected a gambling problem, he replied that he didn’t pursue the matter and reiterated that he had not given the offer any validity, even calling the report an anecdote rather than a fact. He stressed that he genuinely did not know the person involved or what they represented, and he could not recognize the individual from memory.
Who is Aday Benítez, the former Girona player who spoke about an attempted bribe
Born in Sentmenat, Barcelona, on December 16, 1987, Benítez built his career through the ranks before moving into higher divisions. He began with Granollers as a youth, then joined Premia in the regional leagues in 2006. In 2009 he advanced to Second Division B and enjoyed a strong season with Sant Andreu. A subsequent spell at L’Hospitalet in 2011 led to a move to Tenerife, where he played in the second tier. In 2013 he joined Girona, signing a two-year contract a year later, continuing his professional journey across Spanish football.
Source: Goal