England: six people arrested for match-fixing in Championship

Six people were arrested on suspicion of match-fixing in the Championship (English second division) by the NCA (National Crime Agency), on the 08/12/2013.

In an under-cover video made by the British newspaper The Sun and handed over to the authorities, Sam Sodje, a former Portsmouth defender, was filmed saying that he can pay Championship players to intentionally receive a booking. He himself would have been paid 70,000 pounds (about €84,000) to be sent off during a game against Oldham Athletic on the 23/02/2013. In the video, the former Nigerian international also said he can fix Premier League and World Cup matches.

Among others arrested include Akpo and Steven Sodje, brothers of Sam Sodje, DJ Campbell, the former Birmingham striker who plays for Blackburn Rovers, Christian Montano (Oldham Athletic) and Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers). The players are suspected of intentionally receiving yellow or red cards in exchange for money.

Representatives of the authorities of football, tennis, cricket and rugby, the British Gambling Commission and the British Horseracing Authority met Maria…