FRANCE PROBES MATCH-FIXING

Red Star official allegedly bet RM24 million on PSG to beat own team

THE French financial prosecutor’s office said on Friday it was investigating suspicions of match-fixing in a Champions League match between Paris St Germain and Serbian club Red Star Belgrade.

Earlier on Friday, French sports newspaper L’Equipe wrote on its website that European football’s governing body UEFA had alerted French authorities to possible match-fixing in the Oct 3 fixture, based on a tip from a “credible” informant.

L’Equipe had told UEFA before the match that a high-level Red Star official was planning to place nearly €5 million (RM24 million) in bets on a five-goal-difference win by PSG, with the complicity of several players. This prompted the investigation.

Paris St Germain beat Red Star 6-1.

The prosecutor’s office said it could neither confirm nor deny L’Equipe’s story.

Both clubs denied any involvement with the allegations made in the newspaper report.

“With the utmost anger and disdain, Red Star vehemently denies allegations that the club’s Champions League match with Paris Saint Germain might have been rigged. Red Star also strongly denies the involvement of any of the club’s officials in any such illegitimate acts,” Red Star said in a statement.

“Allegations from L’Equipe could cause considerable damage to our club’s reputation and Red Star Football Club therefore insists that UEFA as well as the authorities in Serbia and France should fully investigate these suspicions to find out the truth,” Red Star said.

PSG, owned by the statebacked Qatari Sports Investments, also denied any wrongdoing and said it would cooperate with investigators. L’Equipe