PRAGUE (AP) – Czech police arrested dozens of people Tuesday in a soccer match-fixing scandal.
Czech Football Association President David Tranda said the incident stemmed from a report to police several years ago about possible match-fixing and bribery, but he did not elaborate. Local media reported that the incident occurred in a top-four club league and possibly a youth competition.
A total of 47 people will be subject to disciplinary investigations, Trunda said.
“We will do everything in our power to ensure that the gambling mafia disappears from Czech sports,” he added.
The state prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrest and announced that officers from the organized crime division carried out raids across the country.
The scandal broke just two days before the incident. World Cup qualifying final stage.
Czech Republic has advanced to the World Cup playoffs. They play Ireland in Prague on Thursday, with the winner hosting Denmark or North Macedonia and qualifying for a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The last time the Czech Republic qualified for the World Cup was in 2006.
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