This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25297600
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| DJ Campbell held in football fixing probe | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ex-Premiership footballer DJ Campbell is among six people being questioned by police in connection with allegations of fixing in football matches. | |
| Mr Campbell, who plays for Championship side Blackburn, was one of six people arrested on Sunday. | |
| The arrests came after ex-Portsmouth player Sam Sodje told a reporter he could arrange for players to be booked or sent off in exchange for cash. | |
| Portsmouth Football Club said it was "shocked and saddened" by the claims. | Portsmouth Football Club said it was "shocked and saddened" by the claims. |
| Mr Campbell, 32 - whose full name is Dudley Junior Campbell - played in the Premiership for Birmingham, Blackpool and QPR. | |
| Blackburn Rovers FC said in a statement: "Following reports in today's national media, Blackburn Rovers can confirm that striker DJ Campbell has been arrested. | Blackburn Rovers FC said in a statement: "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 club will be making no further comment on what is now an ongoing legal matter." |
| Red card | Red card |
| Police have not named the other five people who are being questioned. | |
| Mr Sodje was secretly filmed by the Sun on Sunday describing how he had punched an opponent in a League One game to get a red card in exchange for £70,000. | |
| He was sent off in the 50th minute of a League One match while playing for Portsmouth against Oldham Athletic on 23 February. | He was sent off in the 50th minute of a League One match while playing for Portsmouth against Oldham Athletic on 23 February. |
| His team was losing 1-0, which remained the final score. | His team was losing 1-0, which remained the final score. |
| The paper also reported that an Oldham player, Cristian Montano, apologised to Mr Sodje after failing to get a yellow card in the first half of a match against Wolves on 22 October. | The paper also reported that an Oldham player, Cristian Montano, apologised to Mr Sodje after failing to get a yellow card in the first half of a match against Wolves on 22 October. |
| And it said that Mr Sodje's brother Akpo, a striker at Tranmere Rovers, had said he would be prepared to be paid to be booked. | And it said that Mr Sodje's brother Akpo, a striker at Tranmere Rovers, had said he would be prepared to be paid to be booked. |
| The allegations prompted the National Crime Agency to launch an inquiry. | The allegations prompted the National Crime Agency to launch an inquiry. |
| "An active NCA investigation is now under way and we are working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission," it said in a statement. | "An active NCA investigation is now under way and we are working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission," it said in a statement. |
| "Six people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers. We cannot comment further at this stage." | "Six people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers. We cannot comment further at this stage." |
| 'Shocked and saddened' | 'Shocked and saddened' |
| In a statement from Portsmouth Football Club, spokesman Colin Farmery said: "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. | In a statement from Portsmouth Football Club, spokesman Colin Farmery said: "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. |
| "The player in question no longer plays for the club and we have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would co-operate fully with any inquiry." | "The player in question no longer plays for the club and we have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would co-operate fully with any inquiry." |
| Mr Montano's club, Oldham Athletic, said it would be starting an immediate internal investigation. | Mr Montano's club, Oldham Athletic, said it would be starting an immediate internal investigation. |
| Tranmere Rovers said it was "aware of Sunday newspaper allegations regarding Akpo Sodje" but would make no further comment on the ongoing investigation. | Tranmere Rovers said it was "aware of Sunday newspaper allegations regarding Akpo Sodje" but would make no further comment on the ongoing investigation. |
| Former Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chairman Clarke Carlisle said an increase in the number of betting markets in recent years had made it "very easy to manipulate a single incident". | Former Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chairman Clarke Carlisle said an increase in the number of betting markets in recent years had made it "very easy to manipulate a single incident". |
| "Influencing a match used to be wholly more complex because it's 22 men - or 25 if you're including officials - who you need to get to," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "Influencing a match used to be wholly more complex because it's 22 men - or 25 if you're including officials - who you need to get to," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "But now something as simple as a booking, a red card - these can be manufactured incidents. | "But now something as simple as a booking, a red card - these can be manufactured incidents. |
| "I think the betting markets are something that we could have a look at as an industry." | "I think the betting markets are something that we could have a look at as an industry." |
| 'Educating players' | 'Educating players' |
| Former FA chairman Mark Palios said one answer was to "get into the dressing rooms and to make sure that the guys actually have the ability to safely whistle-blow". | Former FA chairman Mark Palios said one answer was to "get into the dressing rooms and to make sure that the guys actually have the ability to safely whistle-blow". |
| The game should look to other industries that "try to make it easy for the whistle-blower", he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | The game should look to other industries that "try to make it easy for the whistle-blower", he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| The Football League, meanwhile, said it took claims of criminal activity "extremely seriously" and would give police its full assistance. | The Football League, meanwhile, said it took claims of criminal activity "extremely seriously" and would give police its full assistance. |
| The Gambling Commission and Football Association said they were working with the NCA. | The Gambling Commission and Football Association said they were working with the NCA. |
| A statement from the PFA said the allegations, if proven, demonstrated "the real issue football faces in terms of corruption" and showed how important it was to educate players of the risks. | A statement from the PFA said the allegations, if proven, demonstrated "the real issue football faces in terms of corruption" and showed how important it was to educate players of the risks. |
| "We take the issue of integrity very seriously and will continue in our efforts to eradicate this evil from our game," it added. | "We take the issue of integrity very seriously and will continue in our efforts to eradicate this evil from our game," it added. |
| In a separate NCA investigation into an alleged international betting syndicate, two non-league footballers were last week charged with conspiracy to defraud. | In a separate NCA investigation into an alleged international betting syndicate, two non-league footballers were last week charged with conspiracy to defraud. |
| BBC Sport's Richard Conway said there had been an assumption for a long time that English football was immune to fixing. | BBC Sport's Richard Conway said there had been an assumption for a long time that English football was immune to fixing. |