Football match-fixing: six arrested in betting probe
A former Premier League footballer is said to be part of an alleged betting syndicate that has been arrested on suspicion of fixing English football matches.
Six suspects, held as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) crackdown on a suspected international betting syndicate, are reported to also include three current footballers.
Delroy Facey, 33, used to play for Bolton Wanderers in 2002-4 is now a football agent.
He also plays for non-league club Albion Sports. He did not turn up to play for their match as scheduled against Athersley Recreation in the NCEL Premier League last night, according to the club’s secretary Jaj Singh.
Mr Singh said: “He was due to come but didn’t turn up. He was named on the sub’s bench but was a no show. I have no idea. He’s been with us about three months and is a cracking lad.”
Facey scored two in an 8-1 win over Armthorpe Welfare on Saturday and has scored six goals for Albion Sports this season. There is no suggestion that the arrests relate to any of the matches in which he or his club have played.
The arrests were made following an investigation by the Daily Telegraph during which undercover reporters discussed the possibility of influencing the scores and outcomes of lower-league English games for as little as £50,000.
NCA investigation
A spokesman for the NCA said: “Six men have been arrested across the country as part of an NCA investigation into alleged football match fixing. The focus of the operation is a suspected international illegal betting syndicate.
“The NCA is working closely with the Gambling Commission and the Football Association. This is an active investigation and we are unable to provide further detail at this time.”
In a meeting filmed secretly by The Daily Telegraph, a fixer from Singapore claimed gamblers could stand to make hundreds of thousands of pounds using insider information to place bets with Asian companies.
The man, who met undercover reporters in Manchester, is reported to have planned to target two matches this month.
Explaining how he would ensure players deliver a particular scoreline, he told the undercover reporter: “In England the cost is very high … usually for the players it is £70,000.
‘Give me at least five’
“So I talk to them. Double confirm. I also tell them, I tell … this (is) what I want … Because simple, I commit myself and they commit. So you tell me how many goals … Give me at least five … either 3-2, 4-0 or zero, … for me four is enough.”
It is not believed that any Premier League sides are involved in the scandal.
A Football Association spokesman said: “The FA has been made aware of a number of arrests in relation to an NCA investigation.
“We have worked closely with the authorities in relation to these allegations. The FA will make no further comment at this time due to ongoing investigations.”
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that it has liaised with the NCA during the investigation.
Yellow card
In one of the Manchester meetings, the alleged fixer explained that the syndicate would use a yellow card at the beginning of the game as a signal that the match was fixed.
He said: “For example, within the first 10 minutes, I will ask them to take one yellow card. So, one yellow card is about £5,000.
“So I say (to the player), okay, in the first 10 minutes I need to see the yellow. If there’s no yellow, that’s it, I will not pay you anything.”
In a statement, Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey said the league had not yet been contacted by the police.
“We understand from media reports that there is an ongoing police investigation into alleged match fixing in domestic football,” the statement said.
“To date, we have had no contact from the police regarding this matter.
“The threat of corruption is something that the Football League and the other football authorities treat with the utmost seriousness.
“The integrity of our matches and our competitions is the bedrock of the domestic game.”
Meanwhile, the Football Conference issued a statement on its official website this morning.
It said: “The Football Conference has become aware of a story published today concerning arrests being made over alleged match fixing.
“The Football Conference takes all matters relating to the integrity of the game very seriously but it cannot make any comment on today’s story as it would be inappropriate to do so.”
FIXING IN FOOTBALL
In 1915 seven players involved in the match between Manchester United and Liverpool "squared" the result. All seven players were found guilty and handed a life ban from football.
In 1964 Jimmy Gauld confessed to interfering systematically with matches. England internationals Peter Swan and Tony Kay were fined and banned from football for life for their involvement.
The investigative work of Brian Glanville and the Sunday Times, unveiled the full scale of match-fixing by Italian giants Inter and Juventus in the '60s and '70s. But no one was ever convicted.
In 1980 AC Milan and Lazio were demoted to Serie B following an investigation into match-fixing.
In 2006 police in Italy uncovered match fixing in Italy implicating Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Reggina.
In 2008 the Football Association suspended four players for betting on the outcome of the match between Accrington Stanley and Bury.
OTHER SPORTS
In 2009 Harlequins rugby union player Tom Williams faked a blood injury to allow a tactical substitution to reintroduce Nick Evans leading to the bloodgate scandal.
In 2010, three Pakistan players, team captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, were accused of involvement in a spot-fixing scheme.