Football clubs investigated for match-fixing

NYON, Switzerland, Nov 25 – Five European football clubs, including two in Albania _ KF Tirana and KS Vllaznia, were among those from Latvia, Slovenia and Hungary suspected in European football’s biggest match-fixing investigation, according to the UEFA.
The European football body identified the clubs as KF Tirana, KS Vllaznia, FC Dinaburg, NK IB Llubljana and Honved and said they allegedly fixed seven qualifying round games in the Champions League and Europa League between July 16 and Aug. 6.
Albanian Football Federation said they supported such an investigation and, if proved positive, they would also punish the clubs.
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino described match-fixing as a “cancer we need to eradicate.”
He said the seven matches were among 40 in continental club competitions previously identified as being under suspicion.
Infantino said UEFA is also investigating three referees and one official connected to UEFA.
UEFA acknowledged that its investigative powers could not tackle organized crime.
It said football authorities would work with state justice departments to share information and file criminal complaints.
“We want all our associations, all 53, to be at the same level when it comes to fighting this cancer we need to eradicate,” Infantino said.