Three former footballers jailed for corruption
Results of two Norwegian third division matches found to be fixed
Oslo: Three former footballers were jailed by a Norwegian court on Thursday for between six and eight months over a match-fixing scam.
Following a complaint from the Norwegian Football Federation, police investigated a series of major bets placed on two third division matches played on June 24, 2012.
In the first game, Follo lost 4-3 to Ostsiden, even though the team was leading 3-0 with just 25 minutes to go. In the second, Asker lost 7-1 to Frigg Oslo, despite being favourites to win.
As a result of telephone surveillance evidence, five players suspected of collusion with gamblers were charged.
Oslo district court sentenced former Follo goalkeeper Drin Shala and former Asker striker Alban Shipshani to eight months in prison and handed a six-month sentence to Follo midfielder Formose Pape Mendy for corruption and fraud.
All three were also fined 30,000 kroner (Dh14,689).
Two other players, one from Follo and one from Asker, were acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
Two men who laid bets on the games were also convicted, including a 44-year-old Swede who was sentenced to 18 months in jail and fined 340,000 kroner for “aggravated corruption”.
