Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Footballer caught in match-fixes meeting
Investigators told ‘this is not legal’
UNDERCOVER reporters have exposed a footballer who was allegedly offering to spot-fix in matches.
The BBC probe showed ex-dorchester Town player Emile N’goy, his brother Hermes and three European players discussing spot-fixing with clandestine investigators.
It involves players manipulating moments in games, such as red cards, so criminals can defraud bookmakers.
The reporter approached Emile at a Llanelli Town game after a tip-off and claimed he was looking for investment opportunities for black market funds. Emile, 25, said he would talk to his brother about it.
Four meetings were then secretly recorded with centre forward Emile – who grew up in France and most recently played for Stranraer – and brother Hermes during the 20-month probe.
In one, Hermes told the undercover reporter: “But you know that is not legal... so you have to be very cautious.”
He initially suggested recruiting three players in Europe’s lower leagues where there was less scrutiny.
Hermes brought Emile and three players from clubs in France and Belgium to a meeting in a Kent hotel.
Idris Laib, Jean-francois Mbuba and Julien Vercauteren all told the journalists they had spot-fixed before. Emile did not say he had taken part in spot-fixing before.
Hermes said they should pay the players salaries of £17,000 to £21,400. At a later meeting, he asked for £430 for each throw-in, corner or free kick they would cause, and more for red and yellow cards. He added: “It’s not like big matchfixing. It’s a small thing.”
When confronted by a BBC journalist, Hermes said: “I don’t know what you’re talking about”, and walked away.
He later contacted the BBC and said he and all the men strongly denied doing anything illegal and denied they had planned to spot-fix.
■ BBC Wales Investigates: The Hidden World of Football, is on BBC iplayer now.
adam.aspinall@mirror.co.uk
@Mirrorasp