Match fixing: Former Portsmouth star Sam Sodje and brother arrested in dawn swoop.
Samuel Okeremute Sodje is an English-born Nigerian footballer who plays as a defender. Sodje also represents Nigeria at international level.
The arrests came after Sodje, 34, was filmed claiming he could arrange for players to pick up yellow cards in exchange for cash!
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A former Premier League star was arrested in a dawn swoop today over shock match-fixing claims.
Ex-Portsmouth star Sam Sodje and his brother Stephen were held by cops investigating football corruption.
The arrests came after Sodje, 34, was filmed claiming he could arrange for players to pick up yellow cards in exchange for cash.
Nigeria-born Sodje demanded £30,000 for a booking and £50,000 for a player to get a red card during a match.
He even claimed he punched a player in the groin during a match to be deliberately sent off - and pick up a £70,000 bung.
The former Reading and Brentford defender also boasted that he could rig Premier League and World Cup games.
He said some African players could be easily tempted because they do not get paid much to represent their national teams.
The brothers were arrested by detectives from the National Crime Agency at their homes in Abbeywood, south London.
Cops were seen carrying away evidence, including a desktop computer, from Stephen’s £120,000 home.
Oldham Athletic star Cristian Montano, 21, was also filmed discussing match-fixing in the sting.
He was caught on tape apologising for failing to pick up a booking for cash during a game.
Another of Sodje’s brothers, Akpo, 33, who plays for Tranmere Rovers, was also captured discussing spot-fixing.
A third man was arrested in connection with the case today but police refused to reveal if it was Montano or Akpo.
Sodje told an undercover investigator that he had “sorted” one former Premier League player to deliberately pick up a booking.
He said the star, who cannot be named, received £30,000 in exchange for the yellow card during a Championship match.
“This guy came to meet me at my house and it was sorted,” boasted the former Nigeria international.
“That’s how easy it is - it’s nothing. The booking one is easy. You just push someone, swear at the referee, kick the ball away.
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A former Premier League star was arrested in a dawn swoop today over shock match-fixing claims.
Ex-Portsmouth star Sam Sodje and his brother Stephen were held by cops investigating football corruption.
The arrests came after Sodje, 34, was filmed claiming he could arrange for players to pick up yellow cards in exchange for cash.
Nigeria-born Sodje demanded £30,000 for a booking and £50,000 for a player to get a red card during a match.
He even claimed he punched a player in the groin during a match to be deliberately sent off - and pick up a £70,000 bung.
The former Reading and Brentford defender also boasted that he could rig Premier League and World Cup games.
He said some African players could be easily tempted because they do not get paid much to represent their national teams.
The brothers were arrested by detectives from the National Crime Agency at their homes in Abbeywood, south London.
Cops were seen carrying away evidence, including a desktop computer, from Stephen’s £120,000 home.
Oldham Athletic star Cristian Montano, 21, was also filmed discussing match-fixing in the sting.
He was caught on tape apologising for failing to pick up a booking for cash during a game.
Another of Sodje’s brothers, Akpo, 33, who plays for Tranmere Rovers, was also captured discussing spot-fixing.
A third man was arrested in connection with the case today but police refused to reveal if it was Montano or Akpo.
Sodje told an undercover investigator that he had “sorted” one former Premier League player to deliberately pick up a booking.
He said the star, who cannot be named, received £30,000 in exchange for the yellow card during a Championship match.
“This guy came to meet me at my house and it was sorted,” boasted the former Nigeria international.
“That’s how easy it is - it’s nothing. The booking one is easy. You just push someone, swear at the referee, kick the ball away.
“A yellow card is a standard thing. No one would even be suspicious.”
Sodje allegedly demanded a Rolex watch and a Range Rover for acting as “fixer” for the dodgy deal.
He said he picked up £70,000 after deliberately getting sent off while playing for Portsmouth earlier this year.
The player received a red card after punching Oldham’s Jose Baxter twice in the crotch.
Sodje also claimed he could rig Premier League games and had discussed match-fixing with several top names.
Montano was filmed apologising to Sodje after failing to get booked in the first half of a clash between Oldham and Wolves.
An NCA spokeswoman confirmed the arrests and said they were working closely with the FA and Gambling Commission.
“Three people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers,” she said. “We cannot comment further at this stage.”
Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey said: “We treat any allegations of criminal activity with the utmost seriousness.
“Given that there is an ongoing police investigation into this matter, we cannot comment further at this time.
“Although, we would encourage anyone with any evidence to report it to the police.
“We will be giving our full assistance to the police during their investigation.”
In a statement, the Football Association said: “The FA is aware of the National Crime Agency investigation.
“We are working closely with the NCA and other authorities. We will make no further comment at this time.”
Sodje allegedly demanded a Rolex watch and a Range Rover for acting as “fixer” for the dodgy deal.
He said he picked up £70,000 after deliberately getting sent off while playing for Portsmouth earlier this year.
The player received a red card after punching Oldham’s Jose Baxter twice in the crotch.
Sodje also claimed he could rig Premier League games and had discussed match-fixing with several top names.
Montano was filmed apologising to Sodje after failing to get booked in the first half of a clash between Oldham and Wolves.
An NCA spokeswoman confirmed the arrests and said they were working closely with the FA and Gambling Commission.
“Three people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers,” she said. “We cannot comment further at this stage.”
Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey said: “We treat any allegations of criminal activity with the utmost seriousness.
“Given that there is an ongoing police investigation into this matter, we cannot comment further at this time.
“Although, we would encourage anyone with any evidence to report it to the police.
“We will be giving our full assistance to the police during their investigation.”
In a statement, the Football Association said: “The FA is aware of the National Crime Agency investigation.
“We are working closely with the NCA and other authorities. We will make no further comment at this time.”
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