Seven More People Arrested Over Spot Fixing In England

Fears that English football could be in the grip of a spot-fixing epidemic intensified on Thursday night after seven more players were arrested over allegations of on-field corruption.

The National Crime Agency confirmed 13 men had been held for questioning following the emergence of new evidence in its investigation into whether Sam Sodje, the former Reading and Portsmouth defender, arranged for players to get themselves booked or sent off in exchange for cash.

Sodje was among six men rearrested, having been bailed until April 8 after being quizzed in December along with his brothers Steven and Akpo, the latter’s Tranmere Rovers team-mate Ian Goodison, Blackburn Rovers striker DJ Campbell and Cristian Montano, who was sacked by Oldham Athletic for gross misconduct. All the players deny any wrongdoing.

Preston North End on Thursday night confirmed they had become embroiled in the scandal after seven unnamed suspects were arrested yesterday, all aged 18-30 and from Football League clubs based in the North West.

The news provided a further reminder that the English game may be under as much threat from match manipulation as its counterparts in other countries. A Telegraph investigation in November uncovered the biggest such alleged scandal in this country for decades and was quickly followed by a similar sting in which Sam Sodje was secretly filmed apparently boasting he could get players deliberately to pick up yellow and red cards.

He was recorded describing how he was sent off after punching an opponent in a League One game, as well as apparently indicating it could be possible to fix World Cup and Premier League matches.

The NCA said in a statement on Thursday: “The NCA have today rearrested the six original suspects based upon new evidence, along with a further seven footballers aged between 18 and 30 suspected of potential involvement in these offences. The seven men arrested in addition to the original six are from Football League clubs based in the north west of England. All 13 individuals are being interviewed at police stations across the country.”

The Football League said: “We will provide our full cooperation to the relevant authorities. Given that it is an ongoing matter, we cannot comment further at this time.”