Recent reports have surfaced alleging that Premier League players have been approached by match-fixers, raising concerns about the integrity of English football. These claims come from Moses Swaibu, a former footballer who was previously convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery in 2015. Swaibu, who now works with the FA and Premier League to educate young players, says at least five Premier League players have told him they were approached by match-fixers outside training grounds or at casinos.
Swaibu stated that the players told him about these approaches between 2015 and 2019. According to Swaibu, the players have also expressed confusion regarding betting rules, particularly since many clubs are sponsored by gambling companies. He refrained from naming the players involved to protect their trust.
Match-fixing is a serious issue that has plagued football for years. It involves players, coaches, or officials manipulating the outcome of a match for financial gain, often through illegal betting syndicates. These syndicates target players with lucrative offers to influence the game. If players refuse, they may face intimidation, such as receiving bullets.
In response to Swaibu's claims, the Premier League has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of English football, emphasizing that gambling by professional players is strictly prohibited. The FA also advises all professional clubs to warn their players before each season about the dangers of match-fixing. The Premier League has also implemented new rules requiring clubs to preserve all relevant documents and information, including WhatsApp messages, once they are notified of a potential rule breach.
Several high-profile players have recently faced bans for violating betting regulations, including Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali. However, there is no indication that these players were involved in match-fixing.
In 2013, British police launched an investigation into match-fixing allegations after a player claimed to rig a Championship game for cash. The investigation was prompted by an undercover operation by The Sun on Sunday, which provided evidence to the National Crime Agency (NCA). The newspaper reported that a player offered to fix yellow cards for £30,000 and claimed to be able to rig Premier League games and World Cup matches.
Delroy Facey, a former Premier League striker, was jailed for two-and-a-half years in 2015 for his role in a conspiracy to bribe lower-league players. Facey was found guilty of conspiring to bribe players as part of a match-fixing scam. He acted as a middleman, recruiting players willing to fix matches for financial gain.
The current allegations highlight the ongoing threat of match-fixing in football. While it is difficult to identify players involved in fixing matches, compromised games can be detected by analyzing betting patterns and player statistics. Football authorities are working to educate players about the dangers of match-fixing and to enforce strict regulations against gambling.
