MADRID
Spain’s National Professional Football League has launched an investigation after the May 23 La Liga game between Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna.
The LFP launched the probe after Deportivo player Alberto Lopo, talking to Spanish TV channel Canal+ after the match, said he told Barcelona captain Xavi to "slow down the tempo of the game" when the score was 2-2 after a 77th-minute Deportivo goal.
Lopo does add in his May 24 statement that Xavi told him Barcelona would not throw the match for them.
Having clinched the La Liga title with a game to spare, Barcelona took a 2-0 lead when Messi scored in the fourth and 60th minutes. Deportivo managed to equalize near the end of the game and the late score helped them remain in the league.
