Telegraph Exclusive: Footballers Arrested in Biggest English Match Fixing Case

Members of an alleged betting syndicate have been arrested on suspicion of fixing English football games in the biggest match-rigging scandal for decades, The Telegraph newspaper reportedly exclusively heading into the early morning hours of Thursday.

Six individuals were arrested throughout the United Kingdom.

On Wednesday evening the National Crime Agency revealed to the Telegraph: “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.”

Three footballers and an agent, Delroy Facey, were among those arrested.

As part of the Telegraph investigative report, recording revealed the extent of the match fixing:

One internationally known fixer arrived in this country last week and was arrested on Tuesday evening.

In a series of covertly recorded conversations over the past fortnight, he claimed that lower league matches could be fixed for as little as £50,000 and correctly forecast the outcome of three games played by the same team.

It is the first time in decades that police have amassed sufficient evidence to hold those suspected of trying to fix a match in Britain, following a succession of similar scandals abroad, the paper reported.

This story is developing…

- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com