Top Police Officer Alleges Premier League Footballers Are Fixing Matches

A high-ranking Swedish police official has alleged that Premier League footballers were implicated in match-fixing activities discovered during an investigation into illegal gambling operations.

Fredrik Gardare, who once headed an 18-month investigation that revealed former Manchester City midfielder Dickson Etuhu’s involvement in bribery in Sweden, stated that evidence connecting multiple Premier League players to betting manipulation surfaced during a 2021 casino raid. Seized phones from the operation reportedly contained numerous Telegram messages indicating players were rigging matches across European leagues and even international fixtures.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Gardare said: “There was more than one Premier League player (involved). Betting on yellow cards, corners and other aspects in matches. I have worked on hundreds of match-fixing cases, and this was the clearest case you could have. It doesn’t get any clearer than being found on a confiscated mobile phone.”

Despite these allegations, Swedish authorities did not continue the investigation, and the unit tasked with it was subsequently dissolved. Gardare maintained that the confiscated phones, which he described as vital evidence, are still held by the police.

The Swedish FA acknowledged receiving general intelligence about match-fixing following the raid but noted that the information lacked detail due to the case’s confidentiality. Consequently, no official action was taken.

The Premier League informed The Sun that it was unaware of these allegations, stating that such matters fall under the Football Association’s regulatory authority. However, the FA has reportedly not been informed of the findings by Swedish officials.

These disclosures heighten concerns about the impact of illegal betting networks in elite football. Last year, whistleblower Moses Swaibu, a former player imprisoned for conspiracy to commit bribery, cautioned that at least five Premier League stars had been approached by match-fixers.

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