Football match-fixing: police launch second investigation into Championship claims

 
Staff|Agency8 December 2013
WEST END FINAL

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A second football match-fixing investigation has been opened by police after allegations that a Championship player rigged a game for cash.

The claims are being investigated by the National Crime Agency after an undercover reporter was told by the player he could arrange for footballers to be yellow-carded in return for tens of thousands of pounds.

He also claimed he could fix Premier League games, even going as far as to say he was ready to rig matches at next year's World Cup in Brazil, the Sun on Sunday reported.

In a statement the NCA said: "The NCA can confirm that the Sun on Sunday has passed material from its own investigation to the National Crime Agency.

"An active NCA investigation is now under way and we are working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission. We cannot comment further at this stage."

The NCA is already carrying out a separate investigation into an alleged international illegal betting syndicate.

Speaking about the latest reports, Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "We treat any allegations of criminal activity in our competitions with the utmost seriousness.

"Given that there is an ongoing police investigation into this matter, we cannot comment further at this time. Although, we would encourage anyone with any evidence to report it to the police.

"We will be giving our full assistance to the police during their investigation."

Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22, were charged this week with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law.

The pair, who played for Conference South club Whitehawk FC in Brighton, were dismissed by their club and will appear in court on Wednesday.

Two other men, Chann Sankaran, 33, from Hastings, East Sussex, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, from Singapore, were charged last month with plotting to defraud bookmakers and will also appear in court this week.

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