UEFA has launched an investigation into allegations of probable match fixing during an Intertoto Cup match between Estonia's TVMK Talinn and Finland's FC Honka.
A UEFA spokesman informed Reuters that European soccer's governing body was alerted to heavy and unusual betting on the 2nd leg of the 1st round tie.
The match in question saw 1st time European participants Honka winning 4-2 away on July 1 after holding TVMK to a 0-0 draw in the 1st leg.
Honka were themselves eliminated in the competition's 2nd round after losing on the away goals rule to Danish side AaB.
The spokesman mentioned the matter had now been passed to UEFA's disciplinary unit with no particular timeframe set for the investigation.
In Estonia, media reported that there is 'lively betting' on the game, with considerable sums wagered on a Honka win.
Postimees newspaper reported that UEFA suspected TVMK of losing the game on purpose.
'Let them investigate if they wish. Fraud with the totaliser is not our problem,' Postimees quoted TVMK president Piotr Sedin saying.
Aivar Pokhlak, the head of the Estonian FA agreed.
'We have very little information at the moment and what we have is unofficial. However, Estonian football and TVMK should feel no shame. We know where the bets were made from. I cannot said which country it was from, however it was not from Estonia,' Postimees quoted him as saying.
This incident is the 2nd to blight the relatively low key Intertoto Cup this season.
UEFA kicked Polish club Legia Warsaw out of the cup and banned them from European competition for 2 seasons earlier this month after their fans rioted during a 2nd round, 1st leg match against Vetra Vilnius of Lithuania on July 8.
12 June 2007
Lukasz Fabianski warns Jens Lehmann that he expects to be Arsenal's 1st-choice goalie next season.
Pole Fabianski, 22, joined the Gunners from Legia Warsaw in May and will vie with the German and Manuel Almunia for the goalkeeper's jersey.
He informed BBC Sport, "Lehmann and Almunia are very good, however I am not afraid of anyone. I am confident of my skills. I would like to be 1st choice at Arsenal as much as they do. My message is clear, I am ready to fight from day one."
Lehmann, who signed a new one year contract with the Gunners in April, says he has nothing to fear from Fabianski, inspite of being 15 years his senior.
He said, "When I am physically fit and have nothing distracting me mentally, then nobody can match me for experience."
Yet the ambitious Fabianski, who has made 4 appearances for his country and was voted the Polish league's best goalie for the last 2 seasons, has other ideas.
"Of course I can wait a little bit for my chance, however I am not coming to Arsenal only to be there," he mentioned in his 1st interview with the English media.
"I would like to become a regular 1st team player. Hopefully I'll do it from the very starting, because I am ready for this. That was my goal from the start. Being at a club and playing are 2 different things, I would like to play. Now I will focus on working hard every day and competing for the number one jersey."
There were reports that Fabianski maybe sent on loan at the start of next season, with Watford a probable destination, yet he is adamant he is going nowhere.
"Nobody has proposed anything to me and I am not going anywhere," he said.
"I would like to be at Arsenal from the start of the season and learn everything about my new team and team-mates. I need to get accustomed to training at Arsenal and the atmosphere in the locker room. That is how I see my future at this club."
The Gunners were monitoring the young keeper for several seasons.
Fabianski 1st trained with Arsenal in 2004
He spent 4 days training at the club in the summer of 2004 and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has kept tabs on him since then.
"Most of the time I practised alone with the goalkeeping coach because most of the Arsenal players were on holiday. However, on my last day I was joined by Manuel Almunia and we trained together for some time. At the end of my time Mr Wenger informed me, 'Be careful, we will watch you'."
Fabianski went on to have 2 sensational seasons with Legia Warsaw and was included in Poland's team for the 2006 World Cup.
Wenger decided to pounce last month after the Pole was linked with several top European clubs, that included Man Utd.
"At the start of last month I was invited to London by Arsenal and had a personal meeting with Mr Wenger," he said.
"I did not have any expectations, however Mr Wenger informed me he would like me to join Arsenal. I tried to remain cool and not be too over-excited, however I felt very honoured. However, being at one of the good clubs in the world will not mean much unless I will start to play for Arsenal and show my abilities."
