28.08.2025 02:17
Fredrik Gardare, the head of the Swedish Organized Crime Unit, claimed that some players in the English Premier League have been involved in match-fixing. He alleged that during a raid on a casino in Stockholm in 2021, a mobile phone seized contained messages on Telegram regarding match-fixing between players competing in European leagues and a criminal organization.
Sweden's Organized Crime Unit Chief Fredrik Gardare claimed that some players in the Premier League were involved in match-fixing. Gardare also stated that despite the evidence, the investigation was not advanced.
THEY HAD MATCH-FIXING COMMUNICATIONS
According to Gardare, during a raid on an illegal casino in Stockholm at the end of 2021, numerous mobile phones were seized. One of these devices contained communications regarding match-fixing with a criminal organization via Telegram, involving players who play in European leagues, including the Premier League.
"THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BETS"
Gardare stated that this is one of the clearest pieces of evidence of match-fixing he has encountered so far. He mentioned that on a player's (Dickson Etuhu, a former Premier League player) phone, there were discussions about bets on cards, corners, and similar matters in matches. This was a very clear situation to prove match-fixing," he said.
Fredrik Gardare noted that despite this strong evidence, the Stockholm police and the Swedish national police closed the case. He even claimed that the phone in question is still in the possession of the authorities. Gardare expressed that he is waiting for a response from the officials regarding why the investigation was not continued.
ENGLAND WANTS AN INVESTIGATION
Gardare stated that the information obtained was conveyed to the Swedish Football Association, but the details were not shared due to confidentiality reasons. Federation official Johan Claesson recalled that "in 2021, the police told us that it contained information about match-fixing at national and international levels, but details were not shared due to confidentiality. Therefore, we could not take action," he explained.
The English Football Association (FA) stated that the investigation file has not reached them, but they expressed their desire to examine the matter.