Police have arrested six people in connection with a second investigation into spot-fixing in English football after a former Premier League defender allegedly told a reporter he had been involved in rigging matches in return for money.

The National Crime Agency confirmed six people were in custody after it acted upon information passed to it by the Sun on Sunday.

The newspaper reported that an undercover investigator had met the former Reading and Portsmouth player Sam Sodje, who had allegedly claimed he could arrange for Championship footballers in the Championship to get themselves booked in games for cash payments.

He was filmed describing how he had twice punched an opponent, Oldham's Jose Baxter, while playing for Portsmouth in a League One match last February as he sought to receive a red card in exchange for £70,000.

'You can't fathom'
Asked to reflect on the dismissal, the then Portsmouth manager Guy Whittingham told the BBC: "When you see it in the cold light of day afterwards, and you see what he's done, you can't fathom out why he's done it."

Sodje also claimed in the video, which was filmed secretly, that he had arranged for another player to be paid £30,000 for earning a yellow card in a Championship match, that he could rig Premier League games and was even preparing to fix matches at the World Cup finals in Brazil.

Portsmouth, who released Sodje at the end of last season, said they were “shocked and saddened” by the claims. “We have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would co-operate fully with any inquiry,” said a spokesman for the League Two club.

The paper reported that Sodje's brother, the Tranmere forward Akpo Sodje, had allegedly said he would be prepared to be paid to be booked. Tranmere said: "As this is an ongoing investigation the club will make no further comment at this time."

Yellow card
The report also detailed how the Oldham player Cristian Montano allegedly failed to get a yellow card in return for money in a match against Wolves on October 22nd and allegedly offered to take part in another rigging incident.

Oldham said: “The club will commence an immediate internal investigation to establish all the relevant facts of the case. The club is co-operating with other agencies in this matter and cannot comment on specific facts at this stage.”

A spokesman for the NCA said: “An active NCA investigation is now under way and we are working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission. Six people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers. We cannot comment further at this stage.”

The FA, the Football League and the Gambling Commission have indicated they will assist police in their investigation.

The NCA is conducting a separate investigation into an alleged international illegal betting syndicate.
Guardian Service