29 Nov 2013

Two charged in UK match-fixing probe

9:08 am on 29 November 2013

Two people have been charged in an investigation into alleged match-fixing in English football.

Singapore national Chann Sankaran, 33, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, who has dual UK and Singapore nationality, are charged with conspiracy to defraud, Britain's National Crime Agency said.

They were among six people held earlier this week, and a seventh person has now been arrested. The BBC reports none of those arrested are believed to be linked to professional football clubs.

Mr Sankaran and Mr Ganeshan, who are alleged to be members of an illegal betting syndicate, are accused of committing the offences in Manchester and elsewhere.

They are alleged to have conspired with each other and others "to defraud bookmakers by influencing the course of football matches and placing bets thereon".

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the four other people arrested earlier this week were bailed on Thursday pending further inquiries.

At least three footballers are reported to be among those held across the country. Sources have told the BBC one of the other suspects is former Premier League player Delroy Facey, now a football agent.

The maximum sentence for the offences was 10 years in prison, the NCA said.