10 men have been arrested in connection with alleged match fixing in the League of Ireland.
They're being questioned at various Garda stations in the Southern and Dublin Metropolitan areas as part of 'Operation Brookweed'.
The Anti-bribery and Corruption Unit and the National Economic Crime Bureau today carried out what Gardai have described as a 'day of action' in relation to alleged match fixing within the League of Ireland.
10 arrests were made as part of the planned operation and Gardai in the Southern and Dublin Metropolitan regions also searched a number of residential properties - backed up by resources from the Limerick and Cork City garda divisions.
The operation stemmed from an investigation carried out in 2019 following reports of suspected match-fixing received from the Football Association of Ireland and UEFA.
The 10 men - aged between their 20s and 60s - are being questioned at various Garda stations in Dublin and the South.
In a statement, the FAI say it has committed to a zero tolerance policy on match fixing and that the Gardaí's enquiries are noted.
A garda spokesperson says: "The Anti-Bribery & Corruption Unit, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) has today, Wednesday, 18th May 2022, carried out a day of action in relation to alleged match-fixing in the League of Ireland.
"As part of the planned operation in the Southern Region and Dublin Metropolitan Regions, ten males (aged in their early 20's to 60’s) have been arrested and a number of residential properties have been searched. The operation has been supported by resources attached to the Limerick and Cork City Divisions.
"The males have been arrested on suspicion of the offence of Conspiracy to Defraud contrary to Common Law and are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at various stations in the Southern Region and Dublin Metropolitan Region.
"This operation stems from an investigation carried out by detectives attached to the Anti-Bribery & Corruption Unit in 2019 following reports of suspected match-fixing received from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
Detective Superintendent Catharina Gunne, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau sAYS: "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."
