Photograph by Shine2010
An unnamed “fixer” has been secretly filmed offering to fix football World Cup qualifying matches as well as club games around the world.
In footage secretly recorded by the Daily Telegraph, an alleged member of an Asian betting syndicate can be heard boasting about the influence he has over games around the world, saying:
“I do Australia, Scotland. Ireland. Europe. World Cup. World Cup qualifier”
The man also claimed to be in contact with a registered FIFA agent, which offered him greater access to officials and players around the world.
The investigative reporting by the Daily Telegraph has been followed up by investigations by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which has reportedly already made six arrests, including three footballers.
The betting on the allegedly fixed matches is mostly reported to occur in the Asian betting market, with the scandal spanning the globe as confirmed by that NCA which confirmed:
“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.”
