Security chief says arrests for ‘match-fixing’ are wake-up call

The matches are thought to be non-League but Eaton, who is now director of sport for the International Centre for Sport Security, says that this investigation should be a wake-up call.

“It was only a matter of time before the English game was caught up in this global wave of match-fixing in football,” said Eaton.

“This new disclosure must be put in global context. Governments and football administrations must not react emotionally but cooly and rationally Everyone really knew that match-fixing is endemic in football. And in this case there is nothing new in terms of the corrupting method, it’s internationality or in the core betting fraud purpose.

“What is new is that it shocks a complacent England, the home of the game. That shock should be used to galvanise international efforts to regulate and supervise sport betting globally, which is the real motivation for modern match-fixing. Strategically governments must tackle the right enemy, betting fraud.

“Clearly international sport, especially football, is in serious trouble with corruption of its competitions.”

A Football Association spokesman said: “The FA have been made aware of a number of arrests. We have worked closely with the authorities in relation to these allegations. The FA will make no further comment at this time due to ongoing investigations.”

Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey said: “The integrity of our matches and our competitions is the bedrock of the domestic game.”

Earlier this year, Europol announced it was investigating 380 games in Europe amid fears of match-fixing. Two months ago, four Australian players, who used to play for AFC Hornchurch, were arrested after allegedly conceding goals as part of a match‑ fixing ring.