Ten people arrested in major garda probe into alleged League of Ireland match-fixing

The ten - who are all men aged in their early 20s to 60s - were arrested as part of a planned operation in the Southern Region and Dublin Metropolitan Regions, named "Operation Brookweed."

A number of houses were also searched as part of the investigation.

Gardaí said the operation was carried out under the direction of the Anti-Bribery & Corruption Unit from Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) as part of a "day of action in relation to alleged match-fixing in the League of Ireland."

The men have been arrested on suspicion of the offence of Conspiracy to Defraud contrary to Common Law and are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at various stations in the Southern Region and Dublin Metropolitan Region.

A garda spokesman said the probe was launched as a result of information given to in 2019 following reports of suspected match-fixing received from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Speaking about today's operation, Detective Superintendent Catharina Gunne, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau said corruption can undermine sports.

"Match-fixing and corruption is a threat to all sports at all levels and undermines public confidence in the fairness of sport.

"It can allow organised crime to infiltrate sport in order to use it to make illicit gains or launder proceeds of crime”.

"An Garda Síochána appeals to any persons who have any information in relation to match-fixing or sports corruption to contact them. They can make a report in confidence to the Anti- Bribery and Corruption Confidential Reporting line – 1800 40 60 80 or to their local Garda Station."