Athlone Town call for Interpol involvement in match-fixing probe

The board and management committee of Athlone Town have released an open letter requesting that the FAI investigation into match-fixing be expanded to include Europol and Interpol.

Football's governing body in Ireland last week announced that they had begun an investigation into the club after receiving information about 'irregular betting patters' during the First Division tie with Longford Town on April 29^th.

The investigation has since been expanded to include two further, unspecified, games on receipt of additional information.

In a wide-ranging statement issued on the club's official Facebook – their primary medium of communication – the board once again distanced themselves from any alleged impropriety.

While the FAI have already involved An Garda Síochana in the matter, the board called for the scope of the investigation to be widened to include “Europol, Interpol and UEFA itself.”

The board stated that it has co-operated fully with the FAI in disclosure of its agreement with its investors and will work “side by side” with the FAI in uncovering the truth about the allegations.

The FAI will commence interviews with players, coaches and officials of Athlone Town on Monday, May 8^th.

Open Letter from the Board and Management Committee of Athlone Town AFC re Match Fixing Allegations.

To all our supporters, friends within the football family, and the people of Athlone, the board of Athlone Town AFC would like to take this opportunity to address as best it can the controversy currently surrounding the club.

First of all the board wishes to restate in the strongest possible terms that we are disgusted and angry that games in which the club played might have been unduly influenced, or that match-fixing has occurred.

Indeed given the extensive media coverage and potential ramifications for our club, the League, and football’s governing bodies, the Athlone Town AFC wants relevant police forces to investigate these serious allegations.

We want An Garda Síochána, Europol, Interpol and UEFA itself to immediately open parallel investigations to the one being currently conducted by the Football Association of Ireland.

It is our strong opinion that no stone should be left unturned in relation to these very damaging claims.

The club fully accepts and believes in the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’.

However, Athlone Town AFC will not be found wanting in regards to the sanctions it will impose if anyone associated with the club is found to have engaged in match fixing.

If any of the allegations are upheld it is not just the club and its supporters, but also the FAI and football itself that will have been duped.

We have already stated publically, and can only repeat, that everyone involved in the club who has been asked to participate will cooperate with the FAI during the course of its investigation.

The club will work side by side with the FAI to ensure that the full truth and all the surrounding facts concerning these allegations of match fixing, which is a blight on the game, emerge.

It has always been our intention to work with the FAI in relation to our affairs.

Indeed the FAI has received all documents pertaining to the investor agreement. That arrangement was discussed at a number of meetings with, and ratified by, the FAI.

Finally, it has been a difficult week for everyone at the club.

The many decent and hard working individuals involved at various levels with the club have been left in a state of shock and are appalled that something like this may have happened to a proud club like Athlone Town AFC.

In particular it has been hard for those from the locality who have given their time and services to Athlone Town AFC for nothing other than a love of the game.

The board will continue to work on behalf of the club and do its utmost to ensure that the club gets through this dark chapter in our history.

Signed The Board and Management Committee of Athlone Town AFC