FA investigate match-fix claims

FA: Looking into the matter

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The FA are set to investigate claims suggesting that a footballer accepted a £50,000 bribe from a bookmaker.

Following a report by The Independent newspaper, the player, who is believed to have played for a Premier League club during his career, is said to have agreed to the deal in order to pay off a mounting gambling debt.

The unknown individual is reported to have agreed to get himself sent-off in a specified game, as well as persuading three team-mates to pick up bookings.

It is understood that his team subsequently lost the match, which was played in Britain in the last two years, and he has since sought professional help.

It remains unclear as to whether the game concerned took place in England, putting it under the FA's jurisdiction, but the governing body for the sport in this country have confirmed that they will be looking into the matter regardless.

An FA spokesman said: "We will be making inquiries into this report."

The case was disclosed during a seminar on gambling at the Sporting Chance clinic earlier this week, and the clinic's chief executive Peter Kay has confirmed that he is aware of the individual involved.

"Neither I nor Sporting Chance is responsible for what a client or ex-client might say, but if you're asking whether I'm aware of this case, the answer is yes," he said.