at the other end of the scale, players are paid just a few hundred pounds. the football industry is worth billions and there can be big profits in buying and selling players, but also through gambling. in the welsh premier league alone, £160 million is gambled on matches every year. and that is just the money we know about. more is gambled on black markets across the world. and it is money which can attract the wrong kind of people to the sport. i the wrong kind of people to the sort. ~ , ., ., sport. i think it is fair to say that corruption sport. i think it is fair to say that corruption has - sport. i think it is fair to say that corruption has always l sport. i think it is fair to say - that corruption has always been around football. that corruption has always been around football. kevin carpenter is around football. kevin carpenter is a la er around football. kevin carpenter is a lawyer specialising around football. kevin carpenter is a lawyer specialising in around foot
it s notjust punters who can place these bets. criminal gangs around the world also want a piece of this billion dollar action. but the key thing is, the criminals aren t gambling. they know what s going to happen because they ve paid off players or officials to do exactly what they want. it s called fixing, and they can t lose. while the criminals ensure the odds are stacked in their favour, they can leave traces of evidence. a team of investigators brought in by football authorities in ukraine were successful in uncovering allegations of a multi million pound operation. before the war with russia, i met the man in charge. we are investigating about the past of the football player, we are
the world also want a piece of this billion dollaraction. but the the world also want a piece of this billion dollar action. but the key thing is the criminals are not gambling, they know us would happen because they have paid off players or officials to do exactly what they want. it is called fixing and they cannot lose. while the criminals ensure the odds are stacked in their favour, they can leave traces of evidence. a team of investigators brought in by football authorities in ukraine were successful in uncovering allegations of a multi million pound operation. before the war with russia, i met the man in charge. war with russia, i met the man in charae. ~ . , ., ., charge. we are investigating at the -aassin charge. we are investigating at the passing football charge. we are investigating at the passing football player, charge. we are investigating at the passing football player, we - charge. we are investigating at the passing football player, we are - passing football player
the fact they re listening and they re agreeing to what s been proposed, again, they shouldn t be there and they shouldn t be even listening to that kind of chat. so that s evidence in itself, that they re in the room, that they re willing to take part. and he s got players on board like minded that will do what he wants them to do already. so, yeah, ithink he s deadly serious. it s one of the hardest things to investigate, without the full weight of a police force behind you, with the tools. it s about the ability to go after these people and follow the money right to the end. kevin carpenter is a lawyer specialising in sports integrity and he has advised football authorities across europe.
arrests, up nearly 50% from the previous season. incidents involving flares, missiles and hate crime were up too by 36%. and this has consequences, sheffield united s billy sharp needed stitches after he was attacked by a nottingham forest fan after they beat united in a championship play off final. the fan has since been jailed. and when everton sealed their premier league survival, crystal palace manager patrick viera was involved in an altercation with a fan during yet another pitch invasion. just last weekend, after manchester city clinched the title, villa keeper robin 0lsen was assaulted as fans invaded the pitch there. joining me now for more on thsi is our sports news correspondent, laura scott. laura there s no doubting there is a serious issue here. have football authorities control? there is a serious issue here.