FA launches match-fixing investigation into Norwich v Derby match
The Football Association will enforce the legal requirement for bookmakers to assist in its match-fixing inquiries after launching an investigation into allegations of a betting sting at Derby County's recent 2-1 win over Norwich City.
The bookmaker Spreadex noted suspicious betting patterns during the match at Carrow Road on October 4. Punters in the far east are believed to have placed a flood of money during half-time.
The Gambling Act makes provision for all sports governing bodies to demand the assistance of bookmakers when investigating threats to their competitions' integrity. The FA, which has confirmed that Norwich-Derby is under suspicion, will now call on that legislation to widen its inquiries to other layers.
The Norwich north MP, Ian Gibson, who attended the Championship match, has tabled a parliamentary question to the culture secretary demanding swift action in the inquiry. "It should be easy to find out how much money was put on that game and when it was put on," said Gibson. "The FA should give us a fast interim report."
He recalled that Roy Carroll, Derby's goalkeeper, was sent off five minutes after half-time, and Sammy Clingan converted the resulting penalty to equalise. Derby took all three points after a defensive mix-up involving Norwich's goalkeeper and centre-half, allowing Nathan Ellington to score from close range. However Gibson reflected that no one had considered the circumstances as anything other than the normal course of a football match. "No one who was there thought it suspicious," he said.
As they press ahead with inquiries FA compliance officers will ask for cooperation from Betfair, which holds an information-sharing agreement with Soho Square, high-street bookies through the Association of British Bookmakers and the online layers' association. However it is not releasing details of its ongoing investigation.
^ Copied of the Guardian website.
The only suspicious thing i can thing of that happened was when David Fucking Marshall ran out of goal the ball was gentally tapped towards goal with him having ampal oppertunity to clear the ball but instead he lightly jogged back to the line and picked the ball up.
