Israel police widen probe into soccer match-fixing

JERUSALEM, Dec 20 (Reuters) Israeli police have broadened their investigation into allegations of match-fixing in the southern city of Beer Sheva and have brought in 23 people for questioning, a police spokesman today said.

Six players from second-division side Hapoel Beer Sheva and 17 others are suspected of being involved in an attempt to fix the result of a match to win a bumper pools payout last weekend, police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said.

''Until now 23 people suspected of involvement have been arrested, and we think there will be others as well. The investigation is still ongoing,'' he said.

The Israeli FA cancelled Beer Sheva's second-division match against Hapoel Ra'anana last Saturday after three players admitted receiving payment to fix its result.

The IFA said that another second-division match between Upper Nazareth and Ironi Ramat Hasharon was also being investigated.

Five players from Hapoel Beer Sheva were released from police custody to house arrest yesterday. One of them told reporters that he was forced to receive money at gunpoint despite his protestations.

The Israeli FA said that apart from being paid not to try to win, players were also asked to stage various incidents such as giving away a penalty or causing a yellow-card offence deliberately to suit the wishes of illegal betting rings.

UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES Israeli FA chairman Iche Menahem said that undercover detectives were present at all league matches last weekend.

''The fact that people know that detectives are present is already a great deterrent (against foul play),'' Menahem said.

He added that the IFA would consider changing its rules to effect a lifelong ban on any player found guilty of match-fixing.

The cancellation of Saturday's match ahead of an expected bumper pools payout forced the record first prize of 40 million shekels to be reduced to 10 million shekels because only 15 and not 16 valid matches appeared on the form.

Match-fixing cases are not uncommon in Israeli soccer, particularly in the lower divisions.

In the last case, a referee was jailed for three years in October after being found guilty of trying to fix results in four separate second- and third-division matches between 1997-2000.

Yohanan Cibutaru was one of three soccer officials to be jailed in a case in which charges have been brought against 13 men. Some trials are still ongoing.

Reuters SY GC2224