Among the 10 men arrested last week on allegations of match-fixing were a top-flight League of Ireland footballer, a manager and a player who also holds a role in the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
The 10 – eight in Limerick, one in Cork and one in Dublin, aged between 20 and 60 – were taken into custody on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud. All have since been released without charge.
Among the suspects are current and former players, as well as non-gamers who are alleged to have colluded to fix games and place bets accordingly.
The arrests marked the culmination of a three-year investigation by officers from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau’s (GNECB) anti-corruption unit.
The investigation was launched in 2019 after the FAI and Uefa, which represents Europe’s national football associations, gave Gardaí reports of possible match-fixing in two games involving Limerick FC in 2019.
Gardaí will now prepare a file to be sent to the DPP, which will decide whether to press charges.
That Sunday independent believes one of the men arrested is a well-known League of Ireland footballer who plays for one of the country’s most successful clubs.
Another is the manager of a team in a lower league. Yet another works for the FAI in a development role.
When contacted, a spokesman for the federation said: “The FAI and Uefa have a zero tolerance policy towards match-fixing and anyone found guilty of match-fixing in the ongoing investigation will be subject to the heaviest possible penalty.
“The FAI and Uefa first drew Gardaí’s attention to the current incident in 2019 and cooperated fully with the Garda investigation.”
The spokesman said all clubs must organize a presentation outlining the law regarding match-fixing.
“As part of the club licensing process, all clubs in the League of Ireland are required to hold an integrity presentation for all their players, conducted by FAI Integrity Officer Fran Gavin,” the spokesman said.
“It outlines the FAI regulations in relation to betting and gambling, the context of betting in football, both international and domestic, and the law in relation to match-fixing.
“The presentation will also examine case histories and suspensions and provide information and advice on confidential reporting platforms and phone numbers for any player who has concerns and wishes to contact the FAI, Uefa or Fifa.”
The Garda investigation into alleged match-fixing at League of Ireland games covers a “count of games” dating back to 2016.
The investigation is focused on matches involving Limerick FC and several of those arrested were linked to that team.
Seven of the men arrested in a series of raids on Wednesday morning are footballers or former footballers. Two are still in the League of Ireland and should be involved in important games this weekend. Five of the arrested men have retired from gambling.
Gardaí are convinced that the alleged betting scam is not linked to larger organized criminal gangs.
The statements of the 10 men will be investigated, cross-checked and analyzed with evidence already gathered, including telephone and financial records.
GNECB Detective Superintendent Catharina Gunne said last week: “Match-fixing and corruption are a threat to all sport at all levels and undermine public confidence in the fairness of sport. It can allow organized crime to infiltrate sport and use it to generate illegal profits or launder the proceeds of crime.”
Gardaí had investigated unusual betting patterns in a number of games where they suspected intentional fouls were being committed. Losing certain games by a certain number of goals was also examined.
Another noticeable factor was that many home fans in one part of the country were successfully betting against their own team.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/player-with-fai-role-among-10-men-arrested-in-match-fixing-probe-41675108.html Players with FAI role among 10 men arrested in match-fixing investigation
