iGaming Business – Police in the UK are continuing to question six people after a professional footballer allegedly told an undercover reporter that he was involved in spot-fixing during matches.
The Sun on Sunday newspaper secretly filmed former Nigeria international Sam Sodje apparently describing how he punched an opposing player in order to get a red card in exchange for £70,000 (€83,569/$114,706) during a League One match in February of this year.
It then emerged this (Monday) morning that DJ Campbell, a striker who plays for second-tier Championship club Blackburn Rovers, had been arrested in relation to spot-fixing allegations.
Sodje, who was playing for Portsmouth at the time, said that he arranged for another player to be paid £30,000 in exchange for picking up a yellow card during a Championship game.
In the video, Sodje also claimed he would be able to rig Premier League games and that he was prepared to fix matches at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil next summer.
The newspaper also reported that Oldham Athletic player Cristian Montano apologised to Sodje after he failed to get a yellow card during the first-half of a game in October of this year.
The publication also said Sodje’s brother, Tranmere Rovers player Akpo Sodje, also said he would be prepared to be paid to get a yellow card.
The National Crime Agency, which is investigating the claims, did not release the names of the six people currently being held by police.
“We can confirm that the Sun on Sunday has passed material from its own investigation to the NCA,” 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.”
