Three players held over match-fix allegations

Oliver Duggan

Six members of an alleged betting syndicate have been arrested on suspicion of fixing English football matches.

At least three current footballers and an agent are believed to have been arrested as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) crackdown on an "international betting syndicate", a British newspaper reported.

The arrests were made after a sting by the newspaper, in which it claims undercover reporters discussed the possibility of influencing the scores and outcomes of lower-league English games for as little as £50,000.

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A NCA spokesman 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."

In a meeting filmed secretly by the newspaper a fixer from Singapore claimed gamblers could stand to make hundreds of thousands of pounds using insider information to place bets with Asian companies.

Explaining how he would ensure players deliver a particular scoreline, he told an undercover reporter: "In England the cost is very high... usually for the players it is £70,000," So I talk to them. Double confirm.

It is not believed that any Premier League sides are involved, but the identities of those clubs affected cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.

hnews@herald.ie