PRAGUE (AP) — Czech police detained dozens of people in a soccer match-fixing scandal on Tuesday.
Czech Football Association head David Trunda said it started the case several years ago by alerting police to its suspicion of match fixing and bribery, without elaborating. Local media reported it happened in the top four club leagues and possibly youth competitions.
A total of 47 individuals and clubs face a disciplinary investigation, Trunda said. They include referees, officials, players, former players and clubs from the top four leagues, including MFK Karvina in the top flight, and Karvina mayor Jan Wolf.
“We will do everything to ensure that the betting mafia disappears from the Czech sports,” he added.
State prosecutors confirmed the detentions and said officers from the organized crime unit conducted raids across the country.
The scandal has broken out just two days before the final stage of World Cup qualifying.
The Czechs are in the World Cup playoffs; they meet Ireland on Thursday in Prague and the winner hosts Denmark or North Macedonia for a spot in the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Czechs last qualified for the World Cup in 2006.
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