FIFA will investigate claims from former Southampton star Claus
Lundekvam that he was involved in systematic spot-fixing during his time
in England and that the practice was widespread in the Premier League.
Lundekvam joined Southampton in a £400,000 transfer from Brann in
September 1996 and eventually left the club when retiring from football
in May 2008.
During his long career with the Saints, the Norwegian defender claims he
and unnamed team-mates made substantial sums of money by betting on
events in games they participated in - a practice which is illegal.
"It is not something I'm proud of," Lundekvam is quoted as saying in The
Sun. “For a while we did this almost every week. We made a fair bit of
money.
"We could make deals with the opposing captain about, for example,
betting on the first throw, the first corner, who started with the ball,
a yellow card or a penalty. Those were the sorts of thing we had
influence over.
“The results were never on the agenda. That is something I would never
have done. We were professional competitors. Even though what we did, of
course, was illegal, it was just a fun thing.”
The former Southampton defender alleged that attempts to spot fix were widespread during his time in English football.
“I know it happened at other clubs as well," Lundekvam said.
“We footballers live in a bubble. It was part of the lifestyle and the excitement. Whatever we could bet on, we bet on.”
FIFA has now said it will investigate the claims made by Lundekvam.
A statement said: "FIFA is monitoring this issue and involved its chief
investigator in England. Once all information is known it will be
decided who is leading the investigations."
Former Southampton forward Matt Le Tissier
claimed in his autobiography that he attempted to exploit the growth of
spread betting by trying to kick the ball straight out of play during a
game against Wimbledon in 1995. However, the attempt failed.
Lundekvam joined Southampton in a £400,000 transfer from Brann in
September 1996 and eventually left the club when retiring from football
in May 2008.
During his long career with the Saints, the Norwegian defender claims he
and unnamed team-mates made substantial sums of money by betting on
events in games they participated in - a practice which is illegal.
"It is not something I'm proud of," Lundekvam is quoted as saying in The
Sun. “For a while we did this almost every week. We made a fair bit of
money.
"We could make deals with the opposing captain about, for example,
betting on the first throw, the first corner, who started with the ball,
a yellow card or a penalty. Those were the sorts of thing we had
influence over.
“The results were never on the agenda. That is something I would never
have done. We were professional competitors. Even though what we did, of
course, was illegal, it was just a fun thing.”
The former Southampton defender alleged that attempts to spot fix were widespread during his time in English football.
“I know it happened at other clubs as well," Lundekvam said.
“We footballers live in a bubble. It was part of the lifestyle and the excitement. Whatever we could bet on, we bet on.”
FIFA has now said it will investigate the claims made by Lundekvam.
A statement said: "FIFA is monitoring this issue and involved its chief
investigator in England. Once all information is known it will be
decided who is leading the investigations."
Former Southampton forward Matt Le Tissier
claimed in his autobiography that he attempted to exploit the growth of
spread betting by trying to kick the ball straight out of play during a
game against Wimbledon in 1995. However, the attempt failed.
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