Blackburn Rovers striker DJ Campbell has been named as one of six footballers arrested within regards to the Match Fixing scandle surrounding the English professional game at the moment in time.
Campbell, who is a seasoned professional in the lower leagues of the English game was arrested on Sunday evening after claims of spot fixing were unearthed.
Campbell’s arrest came after former Portsmouth midfielder Sam Sodje boasted to an undercover reporter that he could arrange for players to be booked or sent off, in exchange for large amounts of money.
The National Crime Agency said five people were bailed later on Sunday evening and will be bailed until the April of next year, as the police try and track down a syndicate, who could be based in Far Estern countries.
Officers were continuing to question a sixth individual, who was arrested on Sunday evening, the National Crime Agency stated.
Portsmouth Football Club said it was “shocked and saddened” by the claims of match fixing by one of their former players.
Campbell has played in the Barclays Premier League for Birmingham City, Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, before moving to Blackburn Rovers earlier this year.
A Portsmouth spokesman stated…..
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.
Both Sam Sodje, and Oldham Athletic’s Cristian Montano admitted to an undercover reporter working fot The Sun on Sunday that they both took large amounts of money for sendings off, Sodje’s sending off was for kicking Oldham’s Jose Baxter in the groin whilst playing for Portsmouth, in a League One game earlier this season.
Sam Sodje claimed he could guarantee events ‘100 per cent’ in return for cash. He said a former Premier League player had agreed to get himself booked in exchange for ‘thirty bags, three zero’, meaning £30,000. ‘The booking one is easy,’ he is then quoted as saying before adding that he controlled a network of players.
Oldham have suspended Montano without pay, after he boasted that he could earn up to £70,000 for getting sent off in the process, whilst DJ Campbell’s untimed un-normal tackle in Blackburn’s defeat against Ipswich Town last Tuesday evening.
The Daily Telegraph unearthed footage a couple of weeks ago, as it emeged that former Bolton Wanderers striker Delroy Facey had been involved, and arrested in Match Fixing probes.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
