As the allegations about the possible fixing of the Derby v Norwich game earlier this year hit the papers many are now starting to wonder if match fixing is as rife in the UK as it seems to be in the Far East. The simple answer is no!
A look at the record of the FA into the subject shows that this has and continues to be taken very seriously by all parties at the heart of the game. That is not to say that players have not been approached, as some have and have reported this to the authorities, but the game in the UK is as clean as any other sport in the world.
Even referees with possible financial difficulties are being forced to sit out games until their financial situation is more secure as these are the parties the fixers concentrate upon. This move was a joint effort by the FA and the Referees Association in order to both protect members and the integrity of the game – something which is at the heart of the FA.
It will be interesting to see what actually happened, if anything, in relation to the Derby v Norwich game and whether these claims have any real basis.
