Two former Whitehawk players have appeared in court over an investigation into match-fixing.

Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun appeared in court this morning charged in connection with a National Crime Agency inquiry into alleged match-fixing.

The pair, who were sacked by the Hawks last week for failing to follow the club’s protocol, are accused of taking part in a conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

It is alleged that the players conspired with two other men, who have already appeared in court, to influence the course of football matches.

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Chann Sankaran and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, both originally from Singapore, were remanded in custody by magistrates in Cannock, Staffordshire, on November 29.

Ganeshan, 43, of Hougang Avenue, Singapore, and Sankaran, 33, of Hawthorn Road, Hastings, East Sussex, are also due before a judge at Birmingham Crown Court later this week.

The conspiracy is alleged to have taken place in Manchester and elsewhere between November 1 and November 26 this year.

A court spokesman said Boateng, of Davidson Road, Croydon, and Adelakun, of Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath, were both ordered to reappear at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday.

The players, both 22, were granted unconditional bail at Birmingham Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The pair were among a series of arrests last week after allegations of spot-fixing in matches were published in a national newspaper.

Blackburn striker DJ Campbell and Oldham midfielder Cristian Montano were among six people arrested following new spot-fixing allegations.

The National Crime Agency is examining evidence provided by the Sun on Sunday, who filmed former Portsmouth defender Sam Sodje claiming he received £70,000 for getting himself sent off in a League One fixture last season.

 

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