NYON/TIRANA: A new concern in the matchfixing case focused on Albanian club KF Skenderbeu has arisen with death threats to investigators from European federation UEFA writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The investigation, largely based on data gathered via UEFA’s betting fraud detection system, saw Skënderbeu banned from UEFA competitions in 2016-17 season, a punishment upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Further investigation, according to UEFA, “now suggests a far greater pattern of involvement by KF Skënderbeu in match-fixing. Consequently, UEFA will now seek a longer ban for this club.”

A statement added: “Today UEFA disciplinary inspectors working on this case have received anonymous death threats, presumably intended to intimidate them and stop them carrying out their work. These threats will not succeed and the police have also been informed.”

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin remained defiant.

He said: “We will never allow UEFA staff working on these matters, or any other matters, to be subject to threats or intimidation from any third parties. They have the full backing of the organisation, including 100pc personal support from me.”

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