Politics
Match-fixing investigation sparked after outrageous 22-1 result sees club go top of table on goal difference
A SEVENTH tier French club is being investigated after winning 22-1 on Saturday to move top of the league.
AC Arles play in the second division of the Méditerranée regional league in France, and needed to beat AC Septemes by a considerable margin to jump ahead of FC Martigues.
AC Arles (yellow) beat FC Septemes 22-1 on Saturday
And they managed exactly that, winning 22-1 in their penultimate game of the season.
The win put them level on points with Martigues but crucially 12 goals ahead on goal difference.
That was until the league stripped them of the result amid an investigation into match-fixing.
Ligue Méditerranée president Eric Borghini said: “I have asked my services to refer the matter to the regional disciplinary commission in order to open a file of suspicion of fraud with an investigation.”
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The move is not surprising given AC Arles had scored just 52 goals in 20 games prior to Saturday’s match.
The Ligue Méditerranée website shows the result has been made null and void with AC Arles still three points and nine goals behind the league leaders.
That means the French side will likely have to replay their match against FC Septemes if found guilty of match fixing.
There could also be greater punishment for bending the rules but first the league will have to conclude its investigation.
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And if Martigues win their final game of the season they will likely be crowned champions – unless AC Arles manage to thrash FC Septemes again.
