Two charged in match-fixing investigation
Two people have been charged with match-fixing offences after attempting to influence the results of football matches in England.
Two people have been charged with match-fixing offences after attempting to influence the results of football matches in England.
Singaporean Chann Sankaran and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan of dual UK and Singaporean nationality have been charged with conspiracy to defraud. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of ten years.
Between November 1 and 26, 2013, they are alleged to have conspired to defraud bookmakers by influencing the course of football matches and placing bets on the games. The offences are believed to have taken place in Manchester and elsewhere.
Both men were refused bail and are due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on December 13.
A total of seven men were arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA), five of whom were granted bail.
Three footballers were among those arrested. It has been reported that none of the players involved are linked to any of the UKs professional clubs.
One man, a Singaporean, was filmed by The Telegraph saying he could pay referees across Europe for a price of £20,000: The price for one game is £20,000, so I know some referees, you want Europe, anywhere, £20,000.
He also suggested that lower league games could be fixed for £50,000.
Speaking on LBC radio, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he hoped the allegations did not reveal further criminality: It needs to be looked at.
Like anyone who follows football, Ive read accounts of match-fixing in other countries. To hear that its now being investigated here, [and] there have been arrests in the Midlands, is very worrying.
This is not the first claim of match-fixing in the UK. Last November it is alleged that more than £1 million was bet on a non-league match between Welling and Billericay Town, more than was bet on a UEFA Champions League match that same night involving Barcelona.