10 people arrested amid allegations of match fixing (Wales)

Police arrest 10 people amid allegations of match fixing in Wales


Wednesday 10 Aug 2016

BY KATIE SANDS

The matter was originally referred to the Gambling Commission by the Football Association of Wales


The club at the centre of the investigation are Port Talbot Town
Police have arrested 10 people in relation to allegations of match fixing in the Welsh Premier League.

South Wales Police made the arrests on Wednesday after the allegations relating to a fixture involving Port Talbot Town FC.

Seven men and three women were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud as part of an ongoing investigation by the force’s Economic Crime Unit.

10 people in custody

All 10 people – from Port Talbot , Swansea and Neath – are in police custody.


South Wales Police began an investigation after receiving information from the Football Association of Wales and the Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit about betting patterns on the match between Port Talbot Town and Rhyl played on April 9.

The matter had initially been referred to the Gambling Commission by the Football Association of Wales.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford said: “These arrests are as result of a thorough process of evidence gathering and close co-operation between the FAW, South Wales Police and the Gambling Commission.

“The FAW remains committed to our Integrity Education Programme which began in 2014, as well as the monitoring and reporting systems we have in place which have contributed to these arrests.

“The FAW will not bring any sporting sanctions against any individuals while the police investigation is ongoing.”

'The SBIU will contine to support all sports governing bodies'

Richard Watson, Gambling Commission programme director, said: “The Gambling Commission Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) provided information to South Wales Police concerning betting patterns seen on a Welsh Premier League fixture between Rhyl and Port Talbot Town. The SBIU will continue to support all sports governing bodies, law enforcement agencies, betting operators and other regulators in a collaborative effort to address issues of betting integrity.”

Seven people from Swansea have been arrested – men aged 20, 35, 48, 21 and 27, as well as two women from Swansea, aged 33 and 43.

A 23-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman from Port Talbot have been arrested, as well as a 28-year-old man from Neath.

The worst kept secret in football......Poor wages, spread betting, not much to play for, it breeds this sort of thing and its been obvious in so many games.

There have been rumours for a while. It's a shame, as the WPL faces an uphill task at the best of times. Haven't seen a game for a couple of seasons, but occasionally watch Carmarthen Town.

Very surprised that Ton Pentre haven't been pulled up on this, a couple of their results were the talk of the Rhondda at local football level last season. I have it from a very reliable contact that bets were placed by most of the squad on them losing certain games, it backfired once though as they won the game that they'd all bet on. Maybe the other team had also bet on themselves losing!

With my track record if I had been in on it I would have still backed a loser.

With my track record if I had been in on it I would have still backed a loser.

Ha! I've quit betting for the foreseeable. Pumping in winnings to eventually lose it all

The average amount bet on a welsh premier league match is just over £500000 per game!! Vast majority in Asia

I know a few boys who cleaned up on this worst kept secret about, few prison sentences to be handed out no doubt.

The average amount bet on a welsh premier league match is just over £500000 per game!! Vast majority in Asia

I don't believe a word of it, links/facts please, otherwise I call BULLSHIT!!!!!!

One of those allegedly arrested is the sister of a well known JB who played for a number of clubs in his career yet never played for his home town. Another is an ex gypo full back.

The standard is Soo poor at that level probably the worst standard in the British isles. I wouldn't be surprised if someone lost 10-0

Just type on search engine average betted on welsh premier, even back 4 years ago it was around 300k
I've looked on some forums and it looks as if the figures are pretty much spot on. In all honesty I think your probably safer betting on the welsh prem than any other when you look at the teams etc