LONDON (AP) English football faced renewed concerns about match-fixing Monday after Blackburn striker D.J. Campbell was identified as one of six people arrested in the second police investigation into rigged games opened inside two weeks.
Campbell is one of two former Premier League players arrested after British newspaper The Sun uncovered alleged spot-fixing where minor elements of a game are rigged in the professional leagues. That follows another newspaper investigation by the Daily Telegraph, which led to non-league players being charged.
The latest probe is seemingly more serious, as it involves games as high up as the second-tier League Championship, and with claims by one player that he could even help rig Premier League matches.
"These allegations, if proven, unfortunately demonstrate the real issue football faces in terms of corruption and highlights the necessity of the work carried out by the PFA and other stakeholders in the game in educating players of these risks," the Professional Footballers' Association said. "We take the issue of integrity very seriously and will continue in our efforts to eradicate this evil from our game."
Campbell has previously played in the topflight for Birmingham, Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers. He's been playing for Blackburn in the League Championship season, and the club confirmed Campbell's arrest on its website but said it was prevented from commenting further because it is an ongoing legal matter.