Published on: August 27, 2025, 04:12h.
Updated on: August 27, 2025, 04:12h.
- Former police officer claims Swedish authorities overlooked vital evidence of international match-fixing.
- Allegations link Premier League players to spot-fixing schemes.
- Seized mobile device contains incriminating messages about fixed matches.
A 2021 operation at a Swedish underground gambling venue revealed potential match-fixing at the highest levels of international football. Evidence purportedly implicating numerous English Premier League players may be languishing on a confiscated smartphone, ignored within a police evidence locker.
Fredrik Gardarè, the former chief of a specialized unit in Sweden focusing on sports corruption, revealed to The Daily Mail that he spearheaded an inquiry into the illegal gambling operation tied to a crime syndicate suspected of orchestrating match-fixing.
‘Overwhelming Evidence’
During the raid, investigators confiscated multiple mobile phones, one of which belonged to a suspected fixer. This device allegedly housed Telegram conversations outlining spot-fixing tactics—such as manipulating yellow cards, corner kicks, and various in-game events—relating to elite soccer matches across Europe and prestigious competitions like the Nations League.
“More than one Premier League player was mentioned on the phone,” Gardarè noted. “…I have dealt with countless match-fixing cases, and this was the most evident case imaginable. You can’t get clearer than finding such evidence on a seized mobile device. This presented a prime opportunity for action.”
In spite of these assertions, the Stockholm police and the national police authority opted not to advance any charges, and Gardarè’s division was disbanded shortly thereafter.
“This was a top priority for me; I dedicated my entire team to this investigation,” he shared with the Mail. “However, the police declared, ‘We are done with this’ by December of that year.”
Missed Chances
Gardarè mentioned that the intelligence harvested from the raid was conveyed to the Swedish Football Association (SvFF). He expressed hope that the governing body had relayed the information to the English Football Association (FA), although he conceded he wasn’t certain.
The SvFF has confirmed receiving information from law enforcement in 2021 but stated the details were insufficient for any actionable steps.
“It is indeed correct that the Swedish FA received general intelligence from the police in 2021 regarding match-fixing information found on a phone during a raid on an illegal casino,” Johan Claesson, the integrity officer for the federation, told the Mail. “However, we were unable to act on this information, as it lacked specifics (since the police investigation remained active).”
When approached by the Mail, the Swedish police, the national authority, and the Premier League declined to comment. The English FA stated that it has yet to be provided with the findings from the investigation, but would evaluate them if they become accessible.