One man remains in custody over match-fixing probe

Anti-Bribery & Corruption Unit, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) carried out raids on Wednesday, May 18.

One man remains in custody, and nine others have been released without charge, in connection with a series of raids by An Garda Siochana earlier this week over alleged match-fixing practices in the League of Ireland.

The Anti-Bribery & Corruption Unit, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) carried out a day of action in relation to alleged match-fixing in the League of Ireland on Wednesday, May 18.

As part of the planned operation in the Southern Region and Dublin Metropolitan Regions, 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 was been supported by resources attached to the Limerick and Cork City Divisions.

The males arrested on suspicion of the offence of Conspiracy to Defraud contrary to Common Law were currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at various stations in the Southern Region and Dublin Metropolitan Region.

The operation, titled 'Operation Brookweed', 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).

Last night (Wednesday) Gardaí released without charge five of the 10 men arrested.

Five other arrested males remained in custody until this morning when Gardaí announced they had released without charge a further four men who were arrested yesterday.

A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, and gardaí state: “Investigations are ongoing”.

They add: “One man remains in Garda custody this morning.”

An Garda Síochána had meanwhile appealed 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 and Corruption Confidential Reporting line – 1800 40 60 80 or to their local Garda Station.