A senior Swedish police officer has claimed that Premier League footballers were involved in match-fixing schemes uncovered during an investigation into illegal betting.
Fredrik Gardare, who previously led an 18-month probe that exposed former Manchester City midfielder Dickson Etuhu for bribery in Sweden, said evidence linking several Premier League players to betting manipulation was found during a 2021 casino raid. Phones seized in the operation allegedly contained extensive messages on Telegram showing players fixing matches across European leagues and even international games.
Gardare, speaking to the Daily Mail, said: “There was more than one Premier League player (involved). Betting on yellow cards, corners and other aspects in matches. I have worked on hundreds of match-fixing cases, and this was the clearest case you could have. It doesn’t get any clearer than being found on a confiscated mobile phone.”
Despite the claims, Swedish police did not pursue the probe further, and the unit responsible was later disbanded. Gardare insisted that the seized phones, which he described as crucial evidence, remain in police custody.
The Swedish FA confirmed it received general intelligence about match-fixing following the raid but said the information lacked specifics because of the secrecy surrounding the case. As a result, no formal action was taken.
The Premier League told The Sun it was not aware of the allegations, adding that issues of this nature fall under the regulatory remit of the Football Association. The FA, however, has reportedly not been briefed on the findings by Swedish authorities.
The revelations raise fresh concerns about the influence of illegal betting syndicates in top-flight football. Last year, whistleblower Moses Swaibu, a former player jailed for conspiracy to commit bribery, warned that at least five Premier League stars had been approached by match-fixers
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