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Premier League Match-Fixing Charges Laid

SOUTHAMPTON, England -- English Premier League players Bruce Grobbelaar, John Fashanu and Hans Segers were charged with conspiracy in connection with match-fixing allegations, police said Monday.


Detective superintendent Peter Long said the three players, plus Malaysian businessman Heng Suan Lim and Fashanu's girlfriend Melissa Kassampasi, have been charged.


"It is alleged that they corruptly received or gave money to influence the outcome of football matches," Long told reporters in this southern English town.


All five were charged and released on bail to appear at Southampton magistrates' court Oct. 11.


All five were arrested in March following a four-month investigation into alleged bribes.


They were questioned by police and released on bail without being charged at the time. All five deny the claims and were granted extended bail after reporting to Hampshire police last month.


The investigations followed a report last fall in a British newspaper which alleged that Southampton goalkeeper Grobbelaar, 37, had received $60,000 to let in goals while playing for Liverpool against Newcastle in 1993.


The Sun newspaper said a betting syndicate, believed to be based in Malaysia, made $4.5 million on the match which Newcastle won 3-0.


Press reports also alleged that Wimbledon goalkeeper Segers let in goals to allow Everton to come back from 2-0 down to win the last game of the 1993-94 season, 3-2, and avoid relegation.


Fashanu, now playing for Aston Villa, but at the time Segers' teammate, was alleged to have given away a penalty in a game against Sheffield United which cost Wimbledon a victory.


(AP, Reuters)

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