UEFA inspectors receive death threats over Skenderbeu match-fixing investigation

UEFA has announced inspectors from the organisation have received death threats over an investigation into match-fixing.

The body has been examining suspicious betting patterns involving Albanian club Skenderbeu Korce, who were banned from European competition for the 2016-17 season as a result of the probe.

UEFA’s Betting Fraud Detection System (BFDS) has now uncovered “a far greater pattern of involvement” in alleged match-fixing at Skenderbeu, with the club set to receive a longer European suspension.

And in an extraordinary statement released on Friday, UEFA confirmed staff members on the Skenderbeu case have been the subject of death threats.

“Today, UEFA disciplinary inspectors working on this case have received anonymous death threats, presumably intended to intimidate them and stop them from carrying out their work,” UEFA said.

“These threats will not succeed and the police have also been informed. UEFA remains fully committed to the fight against match fixing and all UEFA staff working on these crucial matters can count on the full support of the organisation.”

Skenderbeu’s Champions League play-off against Dinamo Zagreb in 2015 is central to the investigation, with the Albanian side losing 4-1 against the Croatian outfit, who were down to 10 men.

The match was the first time a club from Albania had reached the play-off stage of the Champions League.

Aleksander Ceferin, president of UEFA, added: “We will never allow UEFA staff working on these matters, or any other matters, to be subject to threats or intimidation from any third parties.

“They have the full backing of the organisation, including 100 per cent personal support from me.”