Fredrik Gardare, the former head of Sweden's sports crime unit, revealed in an interview with the Daily Mail that he and his team raided an illegal gambling den in Stockholm in late 2021. They seized several phones, one of which contained "clear evidence" of match-fixing on the Telegram app. The device showed players from various European leagues, including the Premier League, colluding with criminals to manipulate matches.

Officer Fredrik Gardare at a press conference in Sweden in 2021. Photo: AFP

"It was the clearest case I've ever handled," Gardare said. "The evidence was right there on the confiscated phone. This was a good opportunity to act, but the police closed the case in December of that year".

According to Gardare, the manipulation typically focuses on smaller details like yellow cards and corner kicks, rather than the overall match result. Suspicions have also extended to international matches in the UEFA Nations League.

This information puts significant pressure on the Football Association (FA). The FA claims it has not received an official report from Sweden but is prepared to assess any evidence provided. Meanwhile, the Swedish Football Association acknowledged receiving general information from the police, but no specific data to act upon.

Gardare gained notoriety for his successful investigation into former Man City midfielder Dickson Etuhu's bribery scandal, involving match-fixing in Sweden. Etuhu was convicted and banned from playing football in Sweden for 5 years.

Gardare's latest accusation has garnered considerable public attention. He stated that the phone containing the evidence remains with the Stockholm police or the National Police Agency, but no further action has been taken. He urged Swedish authorities and European football officials to act and prevent ongoing match-fixing.

"This is a serious issue, not just for Swedish football but for English and international football as well. If it's not addressed, it will damage the integrity of the sport," he added.

West Ham midfielder, Lucas Paqueta, was also investigated for betting when he was suspected of intentionally receiving yellow cards in matches. However, in July 2025, the Brazilian midfielder was cleared of all charges.

Currently, the Swedish police, the FA, and the Premier League organizers have all declined to comment on Gardare's statements.

Hoang An (via Daily Mail)