Multiple people were detained in Wales due to suspicions of game manipulation in a Cymru Premier match that occurred last season.
This action follows a collaborative inquiry by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Sports Wagering Intelligence Unit of the Gambling Commission. The investigation commenced after irregular wagering trends were identified concerning a game between Barry Town and Rhyl on April 9th. Although seven males and three females were taken into custody, no precise information regarding their purported involvement or the potential implication of any athletes has been disclosed.
Jonathan Ford, Chief Executive of the FAW, stressed their dedication to preserving the honesty of Welsh football, stating that these apprehensions demonstrate their partnership with law enforcement and the Gambling Commission. He emphasized the FAW’s continuous integrity training initiatives and comprehensive surveillance mechanisms that contributed to these detentions.
It’s important to acknowledge that anxieties about match manipulation in football are not exclusive to Wales. In the initial six months of 2016 alone, ESSA, an entity representing sports betting providers, reported five distinct warnings related to questionable activities in football. The FAW has affirmed that they will not be pursuing any disciplinary measures against individuals while the police investigation is in progress.