The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has widened its investigation into Athlone Town FC, launched on 8 May after it received information about suspicious betting patterns from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). ‘The FAI has since learned – via confidential information received on Friday, May 5 – that two other games involving the club warrants further investigation’, read an FAI statement.

The FAI began its investigation on Monday, when it me its players, staff and officials of the Republic of Ireland’s oldest football club. It has already submitted information to the Gardaí (police) about the club’s 3-1 loss to Longford Town in Ireland’s First Division on 29 April. It is understood that UEFA’s concerns were sparked after a new investor brought new players to the club who have previously been involved in matches scrutinised by UEFA.

A representative of a new company, Callaview Limited, told the Westmeath Independent that it had been set up to ‘aid the management of the club’s first team affairs’. It currently remains unclear how much influence that the new company has on the club, however it is understood from the newspaper that Latvian and Romanian players brought to the club took part in 17 games that were ‘escalated’ – or marked for further scrutiny – by UEFA. However, no disciplinary action was taken in relation to those games.

Athlone Town’s Board of Directors said that it was ‘disgusted and angry that games in which the club played might have been unduly influenced, or that match-fixing has occurred’, in a statement posted on its official Facebook page. ‘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.’