Ex-Super Eagles Star, Sodje, Implicated in UK Match-fixing Scandal

Source: thewillnigeria.com

...Allegedly paid ₤70, 000 for red card Former Super Eagles defender, Sam Sodje has been implicated in a match fixing scandal currently rocking English football. Sam, 34, the younger brother of bandana-wearing Efe, who also played for the Super Eagles and was a member of the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup squad, was allegedly caught in a video filmed by British tabloid, the Sun on Sunday saying he was paid a staggering ₤70, 000 for getting himself sent off in a Championship game. The incident, which took place on February 23, 2013, was described as 'bizarre' by the sporting media as Sodje repeatedly whacked Oldham Athletic's Jose Baxter in the crotch for no apparent reason earning himself a red card. Sam, who is also a defender, was then playing for Portsmouth, the former club of former Super Eagles skipper, Nwankwo Kanu. In the Sun video, Sam, who made his Super Eagles debut in November 2005, in a 3-0 friendly defeat to Romania in Bucharest, playing the full 90 minutes; was seen collecting ₤12, 500 from the undercover reporter as part payment to fix other matches. The former Reading player had boasted to the Sun reporter that it was easy to get other players on the act for a fee. Meanwhile, British Police have confirmed that they have opened a new investigation into match-fixing following allegations following the newspaper report. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said it had been passed information by the Sun on Sunday newspaper. An undercover reporter claimed to have met a player who said he could fix yellow cards in return for £30,000. The Football League said it took claims of criminal activity "extremely seriously" and would assist police. The player also allegedly told the Sun on Sunday reporter he could rig Premier League games and was prepared to fix matches at next year's World Cup. The NCA said: "The NCA can confirm that the Sun on Sunday has passed material from its own investigation to the National Crime Agency. "An active investigation is now under way and we are working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission. We cannot comment further at this stage." Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey encouraged anyone with any evidence to report it to the police. Harvey added: "We treat any allegations of criminal activity in our competitions with the utmost seriousness. "We will be giving our full assistance to the police during their investigation." In a separate NCA investigation into an alleged international betting syndicate, two non-league footballers were earlier this week charged with conspiracy to defraud. Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22, play for Whitehawk FC, based in Brighton, in the Conference South. Two other men, Singapore national Chann Sankaran, 33, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, who has dual UK and Singapore nationality, were charged with conspiracy to defraud in November. The pair have been bailed and are due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on December 11. DAILY TIMES NIGERIA