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Granit Xhaka booking investigated by National Crime Agency with suspicions of betting scandal, but ‘no suggestion of wrongdoing’ by Arsenal star
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka’s yellow card against Leeds back in December is being investigated by the National Crime Agency, amid suspicions of a major betting scandal.
According to reports, the Football Association passed on information to the agency after a six-month investigation of their own - although there are no suggestions of any wrongdoing from Xhaka or any of his fellow players.
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Swiss star Xhaka - who has a notoriously bad disciplinary record - was booked in the closing stages of the Gunners’ 4-1 Premier League victory over Leeds at Elland Road on December 18.
Despite the comfortable scoreline, the former Arsenal captain was shown a yellow card for time wasting in the 86th minute by referee Andre Marriner, after he delayed taking a free-kick being taken.
The claim an investigation was opened by the FA due to an unusually large bet of around £52,000 that was placed during the game on Xhaka being booked in the final ten minutes.
The suspicious bet was placed on a betting exchange website, and was reported to have earned a pay-out of around £250,000.
The FA were alerted to the bet by bookmakers, with claims the money involved is far more than what is usually wagered on yellow cards.
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The incident led to a FA investigation, which lasted six months, with the information gained from that since being passed over to the National Crime Agency, with suspicions of ‘corruption and possible criminality’ involved.
Bookies were also alerted to the odds of Xhaka being booked, which were higher in the final ten minutes of the match than they were before kick-off.
There has not been an investigation into Xhaka’s conduct.
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