Tokyo: Japan's football authorities on Tuesday sacked coach Javier Aguirre, amid claims he was involved in match-fixing during a previous tenure in Spain. The move brings to an end the short and tumultuous stint in Japan for the 56-year-old Mexican, who was reportedly the country's highest-ever paid national coach on an estimated $2.45 million annually, but under whom the Blue Samurai fizzled on the field.

"We have reached the decision to terminate the contract with coach Aguirre at this time," Japan Football Association (JFA) president Kuniya Daini told a nationally televised press conference. "We have come to the conclusion that we must avoid the risk that these things will affect the World Cup Asia qualifiers."