Ten arrested in match fixing probe

Ten men have been arrested this morning in connection with match fixing in the League of Ireland by gardaí linked to Limerick and Cork city.

The arrests are a result of a day of action carried out by gardaí in the southern region of Ireland, as well as the Dublin metropolitan region.

Ten males aged in their early 20's to 60’s have been arrested and a number of residential properties have been searched. The operation has been supported by resources attached to the Limerick and Cork city divisions.

The males have been arrested on suspicion of the offence of conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law and are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at various stations in the southern region and Dublin metropolitan region.

The operation stems from an investigation carried out by detectives attached to the Anti-Bribery & Corruption Unit in 2019 following reports of suspected match-fixing received from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Speaking about the operation, Detective Superintendent Catharina Gunne, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB), said: "Match-fixing and corruption is a threat to all sports at all levels and undermines public confidence in the fairness of sport. It can allow organised crime to infiltrate sport in order to use it to make illicit gains or launder proceeds of crime.”

An Garda Síochána is appealing to any persons who have any information in relation to match-fixing or sports corruption to contact them. They can make a report in confidence to the Anti-Bribery & Corruption Confidential Reporting line on 1800-406080 or to their local garda station.