Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the English Premier League (EPL) top-tier football competition, has called for players and managers to be banned from betting on football.
Speaking to the BBC about the recent allegations of match-fixing in English football, Scudamore said he could not rule out that that such activity had not taken place in the league.
As reported by iGaming Business, the UK’s National Crime Agency recently arrested six people in connection with football match-fixing in the UK.
Since the initial announcement, a number of other people have been arrested in relation to the allegations, including a number of footballers that play outside of the league.
Although no players in the top division have been arrested as of yet, Scudamore said he could not discount the possibility of match-fixing having taken place in England’s top football division.
“If a person is involved in football, they shouldn’t be allowed to bet on football,” he said. “The time has come for that to happen.”
“We have had 8,393 matches so far in the Premier League, and I can’t actually sit here today and say it has never happened in those matches.
“We are monitoring over 300 international betting markets and we have a whole system of things in place.”
Scudamore added that although he regarded match-fixing as a “serious issue” he remains confident that it is not “entirely widespread and prevalent”.
Earlier this month, Alex Horne, general secretary of the Football Association, agreed with Scudamore in saying that the problem was not “widespread”.
Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, also said the mechanics of corrupt betting need to be worked out if the issue is to be tackled in an effective manner.
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
