Two men extradited, charged over match fixing

Two men are accused of acting as “player agents” and approaching a Queensland football competitor in attempts to fix matches.

Queensland Police have extradited the men, aged 55 and 45, from Sydney and charged them after a months-long investigation into attempted sports match fixing at Gold Coast-based football games.

Police allege that on May 12 and June 20, two employees of an offshore investment group acted as “player agents” and approached a football player at a Coomera home on the Gold Coast in a “co-ordinated effort” to match fix in exchange for payment.

Police are yet to confirm the football code involved.

Match fixing is the act of deliberately manipulating the outcome of a sports event for illicit gain, often involving betting or bribery.

NSW Police searched homes in Sydney’s Mosman and Mount Colah on Tuesday before Queensland Police detectives travelled to NSW to seek the two men’s extradition.

The men have been charged with one count each of procuring a person to engage in match-fixing pecuniary benefit.

It is only the second time a person in Queensland has been charged with match-fixing since the legislation was introduced in 2014.

Detective Chief Inspector Melissa Anderson said the charges should serve as a warning to anyone taking part in match-fixing.

“Match-fixers attempt to manipulate games to gain a benefit, usually gambling profit, or the overall value of clubs, teams and players,” she said.

“Match-fixing is serious criminal behaviour that undermines community confidence in the fairness of sport.”

The men will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.