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Football spot-fixing claims: three held Football spot-fixing claims: six held
(about 4 hours later)
Police have arrested three people in connection with a second investigation into football spot-fixing following allegations that a player rigged a Championship game in return for cash. Police have arrested six people in connection with a second investigation into spot-fixing in English football after a former Premier League defender allegedly told an undercover reporter he had been involved in rigging matches in return for money.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed it had acted on information passed on by the Sun on Sunday newspaper. The tabloid reported that an undercover investigator met ex-Portsmouth player Sam Sodje, who allegedly said he could arrange for footballers in the Championship to get themselves a yellow card in return for tens of thousands of pounds. The National Crime Agency confirmed six people were in custody after it acted upon information passed to it by the Sun on Sunday. The newspaper reported that an undercover investigator had met the former Reading and Portsmouth player Sam Sodje, who had allegedly claimed he could arrange for Championship footballers in the Championship to get themselves booked in games for cash payments.
The 34-year-old also claimed he could rig Premier League games and even said he was preparing to fix matches at next year's World Cup in Brazil, the newspaper reported. The 34-year-old was filmed describing how he had twice punched an opponent, Oldham Athletic's Jose Baxter, while playing for Portsmouth in a League One match last February as he sought to receive a red card in exchange for £70,000. Asked on Sunday to reflect on the dismissal, the then Portsmouth manager Guy Whittingham told the BBC: "When you see it in the cold light of day afterwards, and you see what he's done, you can't fathom out why he's done it."
Portsmouth FC spokesman Colin Farmery said: "If these serious allegations are true then we are extremely shocked and saddened by them, as match-fixing of any type goes to the heart of the integrity of the game. The player in question no longer plays for the club and we have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would co-operate fully with any inquiry." Sodje also claimed in the video, which was filmed secretly, that he had arranged for another player to be paid £30,000 for earning a yellow card in a Championship match, that he could rig Premier League games and was even preparing to fix matches at the World Cup finals in Brazil.
It was also reported that Oldham Athletic player Cristian Montano failed to get a yellow card in return for money in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 22 October and offered to take part in another rigging incident. Portsmouth, who released Sodje at the end of last season, said they were "shocked and saddened" by the claims. "Match-fixing of any type goes to the heart of the integrity of the game," said a spokesman for the League Two club. "The player in question no longer plays for the club and we have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would co-operate fully with any inquiry.". Sodje could not be reached for comment.
Oldham said in a statement: "Oldham Athletic Football Club has been made aware of the incident and allegation surrounding one of its players, Cristian Montano. The club will commence an immediate internal investigation to establish all the relevant facts of the case. The newspaper reported that Sodje's brother, the Tranmere forward Akpo Sodje, had allegedly said he would be prepared to be paid to be booked. Tranmere said: "As this is an ongoing investigation the club will make no further comment at this time."
"The club is co-operating with other agencies in this matter and cannot comment on specific facts at this stage. The club will not be issuing any further statements at this time." The report also detailed how the Oldham player Cristian Montaño allegedly failed to get a yellow card in return for money in a match against Wolves on 22 October and allegedly offered to take part in another rigging incident. Oldham said: "The club will commence an immediate internal investigation to establish all the relevant facts of the case. The club is co-operating with other agencies in this matter and cannot comment on specific facts at this stage."
An NCA spokeswoman said: "An active NCA investigation is now under way and we are working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission. Three people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers. We cannot comment further at this stage." A spokesman for the NCA said: "An active NCA investigation is now under way and we are working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission. Six people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers. We cannot comment further at this stage." The Football Association, the Football League and the Gambling Commission have indicated they will assist police in their investigation.
The NCA is already carrying out a separate investigation into an alleged international illegal betting syndicate. The NCA is conducting a separate investigation into an alleged international illegal betting syndicate. Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22, were charged last week with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law. The pair, who played for Conference South club Whitehawk, were dismissed by their club and will appear in court on Wednesday.
Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22, were charged last 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.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.
Speaking about the latest reports, the 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."
In a statement, the Football Association said: "The FA is aware of the National Crime Agency investigation and is working closely with the NCA and other authorities. We will make no further comment at this time."
A Gambling Commission spokesman said: "The Gambling Commission has responded quickly in supporting this ongoing National Crime Agency investigation and continues to liaise with both the NCA and the Football Association."
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