Overseas syndicate attempted to fix games

Airtricity League director Fran Gavin has revealed that a sophisticated overseas betting syndicate initiated the incident which led to Colm James last week receiving an 18-month ban from football.

The Longford Town midfielder incurred the suspension, unprecedented in length, for breaching FAI rules in relation to “bringing the game into disrepute”, “corruption” and “betting/gambling”. The player has chosen not to appeal the ban.

While their investigation didn’t uncover evidence of any match being actually fixed, the FAI are certain moves were afoot to influence the outcome of a fixture.