Match-Fixing Scandal: Champions League Clash Between Liverpool and Debrecen is Reportedly One of the Games Being Investigated

Feb 05, 2013 01:34 AM EST
Dirk Kuyt Liverpool Debrecen
Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt challenges Debrecen's Adamo Coulibaly during their Champions League game at Anfield, September 16, 2009. "

 

Liverpool could be embroiled in the match-fixing case which has shaken the sport, after reports claimed the Reds' Champions League match against Debrecen in 2009 was the game in England which was being investigated along with nearly 400 others.

The sport was seriously hit when Europol claimed they had unearthed a Singapore betting ring which had fixed or tried to fix hundreds of matches over the last few years.

A game being investigated was a Champions League tie in England, which took place "within the last three to four years," according to director of Europol Rob Wainwright.

"Given the scale of corruption involved, it would be naive and complacent to think that the criminal conspiracy does not affect the English game," Wainwright added, while saying the focus of the investigation was not in England.

The game is now being reported as Liverpool's group stage match against Debrecen in Sept. 16, 2009. Debrecen goalkeeper Vukasic Poleksic was allegedly paid to let in over two goals in the game, something which he failed to do, with Liverpool winning 1-0, according to The Sun.

Kuyt scored the only goal of the game, after Poleksic spilled a routine Fernando Torres strike, with the Holland forward latching onto the rebound.

Liverpool missed several chances, with Gerrard also hitting the woodwork with police recovering text messages which were not happy with the fact that Liverpool missed so many opportunities, according to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

Poleksic is currently banned from the sport, after also allegedly taking money to fix another group stage match against Fiorentina.

A Liverpool spokesman denied the club had been contacted over the investigations. "We have had absolutely no contact off anyone from Europol, nothing whatsoever.

The F.A. also said they were not aware of any suspicious activities in any match in England.

"We are not aware of any credible reports into suspicious Champions League fixtures in England, nor has any information been shared with us," the F.A. said in a statement.

"While the Champions League comes under UEFA jurisdiction, the FA, alongside the Premier League, Football League and Conference, monitor markets for the top seven leagues and three major cup competitions in England and take matters of integrity in football extremely seriously."

425 players, match officials, club officials and criminals are suspected to be involved in the wide-ranging match-fixing scandal.

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