Zenit St Petersburg have angrily denied match-fixing allegations made in the Spanish media regarding their UEFA Cup semi-final win over Bayern Munich earlier this year.
Spanish newspaper El Pais claimed a judge had forwarded information to German prosecutors which claimed a gang with links to the Russian mafia had given money to Bayern before the match.
Zenit beat the Bundesliga outfit 4-0 in the second leg of their semi-final, before getting past Rangers in the final to lift the UEFA Cup.
The Russian club have strongly denied the allegations and threatened legal action over the claims.
In a statement on their official website, they said: 'In a selection of the media, news has popped up which refers to different Spanish sources, and directly affects FC Zenit's reputation.
'The quality of play shown by FC Zenit in the games against Rangers FC and Bayern Munich is the best proof that the victories were earned by Zenit in honest and non-compromising challenges.
'Allegations of deals mentioned in the media are offensive to all parties mentioned.
'At this moment FC Zenit's legal department are evaluating the origins of the story. After this, a decision about legal means to protect the club's reputation and sport as a whole, shall be decided.'
Bayern have also denied all knowledge of the allegations.
'Bayern Munich knows nothing about this suspicion, and neither does the Munich prosecutor's office,' said a club statement.
