Italian police arrest match-fixing suspect

A suspected football match-fixer has been arrested after landing in Milan on a flight from Singapore, Italian police said.

Admir Suljic, from Slovenia, is wanted by judicial authorities in the city of Cremona who are investigating a massive match-fixing case that has already brought the arrests of more than 50 people, with over 150 under investigation.

Police said Suljic has been on the run since December 2011 and is considered a “key element” in the Last Bet operation.

Officials added that he spent a significant time in Singapore in close contact with the alleged fixing organisation’s chiefs.

Earlier today, Interpol secretary general Ronald Noble said that Singaporean police had notified authorities in Italy that a suspected match-fixer was flying to Milan’s Malpensa airport.

Italian prosecutors are investigating dozens of league and cup games they say were fixed after a crime syndicate allegedly made millions betting on rigged games between 2008 and late 2011, through bribing players, referees and club officials.

Police have questioned dozens of people in Italy, searched the homes of players and coaches, and descended on the Italian national squad’s training camp early one morning in May last year.