France’s Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) confirmed that French police had made a number of arrests on 17/18 November in connection to suspected match-fixing in Ligue 2 last season. “I can confirm that, on the instruction of Parisian judges, MM. Tournaire and Robert, searches were made and suspects taken into custody on suspicion of match-fixing in Ligue 2 during the last season by the SCCJ [central service for racecourses and games of the Directorate General of the Judicial Police]”, said LFP President Frédéric Thiriez in an 18 November statement.

Thiriez said that due to the secrecy of the ongoing investigation, he could say no more at this time. However, he urged the police and the courts – who have yet to release a statement on the arrests – to “shed some light on this matter”.

• Olympique Marseille confirmed that its President and CEO, Vincent Labrune and Philippe Pérez, had been released by police without charge on 20 November. The two executives were taken in by police for questioning on 18 November, as part of a two-year investigation into the club’s transfer dealings.