9 Dec 2013

Blackburn striker arrested in spot-fixing probe

The Blackburn Rovers striker DJ Campbell is one of six people arrested as part of a football spot-fixing investigation, his club confirms.

Blackburn Rovers striker DJ Campbell (Getty)

Mr Campbell, 32, was arrested on Sunday after the National Crime Agency (NCA) began investigating allegations that a player, Sam Sodje, claimed he could arrange for Championship footballers to get themselves a yellow card in return for tens of thousands of pounds.

A former Portsmouth and Reading player, Sodje, 34, was also alleged to have claimed that he could rig Premier League games, and apparently said he was preparing to fix matches at next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

He was filmed describing how he had twice punched an opponent, Jose Baxter, of Oldham Atheltic, while playing for Portsmouth in a League One match last February. He said that he was trying to get a red card in exchange for £70,000.

In the video, filmed secretly by the Sun on Sunday, he also claimed that he had arranged for another player to be paid £30,000 for earning a yellow card in a Championship match.

Six people, including Mr Campbell, were arrested on Sunday after the Sun on Sunday passed information to the National Crime Agency.

Mr Campbell and four others were released on bail, while one person, who was arrested in the evening, remains in custody.

Gambling Commission

Blackburn Rovers FC said: “Following reports in today’s national media, Blackburn Rovers can confirm that striker DJ Campbell has been arrested.

“The club will be making no further comment on what is now an ongoing legal matter.”

The six men were still being questioned by detectives from the NCA this morning. The NCA said it was working with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission as part of its investigations.

Responding to the claims about Sodje on Sunday, Portsmouth FC spokesman Colin Farmery said that he no longer played for the club.

He added: “If these serious allegations are true then we are extremely shocked and saddened by them, as match-fixing of any type goes to the heart of the integrity of the game.

“We have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would cooperate fully with any inquiry.”

It was also alleged that Oldham Athletic player Cristian Montano failed to get a yellow card in return for money in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on October 22 and offered to take part in another rigging incident.

Internal investigation

Oldham said in a statement: “Oldham Athletic Football Club has been made aware of the incident and allegation surrounding one of its players, Cristian Montano. The club will commence an immediate internal investigation to establish all the relevant facts of the case.

“The club is co-operating with other agencies in this matter and cannot comment on specific facts at this stage. The club will not be issuing any further statements at this time.”

Speaking about the latest reports, Football League Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: “We treat any allegations of criminal activity in our competitions with the utmost seriousness.”

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) said: “These allegations, if proven, unfortunately demonstrate the real issue football faces in terms of corruption and highlights the necessity of the work carried out by the PFA and other stakeholders in the game in educating players of these risks.

“We take the issue of integrity very seriously and will continue in our efforts to eradicate this evil from our game.

“In terms of these specific reports, due to the ongoing investigation by the National Crime Agency, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

‘Syndicate’

The NCA is already carrying out a separate investigation into an alleged international illegal betting syndicate.

Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22, were charged last week with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law.

The pair, who played for Conference South club Whitehawk FC in Brighton, were dismissed by their club and will appear in court on Wednesday.

Two other men, Chann Sankaran, 33, from Hastings, East Sussex, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, from Singapore, were charged last month with plotting to defraud bookmakers and will also appear in court this week.