Three men arrested in League of Ireland match-fixing probe

Gardai have today (Thursday) arrested three males, aged in their 30s, in connection with alleged League of Ireland match fixing.

Two of the arrests were in the Dublin region while the third was described as occurring in "the Eastern region" according to a statement issued by the Garda press office this morning.

The three men are currently being detained in Garda stations "on suspicion of the offence of Conspiracy to Defraud contrary to Common Law."

The arrests were part of 'Operation Brookweed' which involves the anti-bribery and corruption unit at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB).

Officers attached to Interpol's Match-Fixing Task Force also travelled from Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France, to support today's operation.

Detectives also arrested a man in the Northwest last week as part of the ongoing investigation, and today's arrests bring the total number arrested as part of Operation Brookweed to 14.

Commenting on the investigation, Detective Superintendent Catharina Gunne said: "Match-fixing and corruption is a threat to all sports at all levels and undermines public confidence in the fairness of sport.

"It can allow organised crime to infiltrate sport in order to use it to make illicit gains or launder proceeds of crime.

"The anti-bribery and corruption unit will take proactive action where necessary to disrupt such criminality. Match-fixers prey on young and vulnerable players in order to corrupt them for their ends."

In a statement, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said it had noted "the latest developments in the ongoing Garda enquiry into alleged historical match fixing."

The association said that it and UEFA remained committed to "a zero-tolerance policy" on match fixing.

"As this continues to be a legal matter, we cannot comment further beyond this," it said.