Crime

PREMIER League footballers are fixing matches, according to a top cop who busted an illegal betting ring.Fredrik Gardare, who led a Swedish police team targeting organised crime in sport, claimed he found evidence in a casino raid.Top cop Fredrik Gardare (L) made the bombshell claimCredit: AP:Associated PressMultiple Premier League stars are involved, according to GardareDickson Etuhu was banned from football in Sweden for five years after Gardare’s probe into his briberyCredit: Getty Images – GettyGardare previously led an 18-month probe that exposed ex-Man City midfielder Dickson Etuhu for match-fixing bribery in SwedenThe Football Association now faces questions over if they will investigate the sensational allegations.But according to the Daily Mail, the FA have not been made aware of the investigation’s findings by Swedish police.Inspector Gardare told the outlet: “There was more than one Premier League player (involved). Betting on yellow cards, corners and other aspects in matches.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”We also gave the information to the football federation here in Sweden directly and said, ‘This is serious’. Hopefully they called the English FA, but I don’t know.He added: “This is important for both Swedish football and football in several countries. It’s important for England and international football to stop ongoing match-fixing.”Gardare has previously worked on high-profile cases – including the probe into Etuhu for bribery for trying to fix matches.The Nigerian international was found guilty and banned from football in Sweden for five years.Most read in FootballBut Gardare’s last probe into match-fixing after gathering months of intelligence culminated in a raid on an illegal casino in 2021 to bust a ring of match-fixers.Cops confiscated several of phones – but one player in particular reportedly had extensive evidence on Telegram of players fixing games in different European Leagues and even in international games.Uefa bans disgraced club from all competitions for TEN YEARS over match fixing in Conference LeagueThe Swedish investigator claimed that multiple Premier League stars were part of the evidence.Despite the damming proof that Gardare claims to have found, he said Swedish police decided not to pursue the probe any further.He now wants authorities to address unanswered questions, and he claims that the seized phones with crucial evidence on them are still with police.The raid was the unit’s final investigation before it was disbanded.Gardare told the Daily Mail: “That phone is either sitting with Stockholm police or the national police force.”He added: “It was very high priority from my side, I set my whole team on this investigation.”But at the same time, the police said, ‘we are finished with this’ in December that year.”The top officer emphasised: “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.”Swedish FA integrity officer Johan Claesson confirmed that his organisation received “general intelligence from the police” about match-fixing on a national and international level following an illegal casino raid.But he said that information did not “contain any specifics” because of the secrecy of the ongoing probe – so they could not act on anything.The Premier League told The Sun: “This is not a matter that the Premier League is aware of.”Rules related to this subject – and the governance there of – are within The Football Association’s regulatory remit and as such your enquiry is best directed to them.”Last year, at least five Premier League players had been approached by match-fixers, according to whistleblower Moses Swaibu, The Telegraph reported.The former player, who was previously jailed for conspiracy to commit bribery, suggested illegal betting syndicates had been aiming for the top flights of English football.More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun OnlineThesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. More