New 5 Live podcast exposes match fixers targeting footballers

Confessions of a Match Fixer sees Moses Swaibu telling his story of player turned match fixer to professional footballer Troy Deeney.

The eight-part series, which is part of the Sport’s Strangest Crimes podcast brand, reveals how Moses Swaibu went from Crystal Palace’s Young Player of the year, to trusted lieutenant in an organised crime group rigging football matches and making vast sums of money by betting on the results.

Moses takes professional footballer, Troy Deeney, through the story. Although it took place in the lower divisions of the English League system, it wasn’t a small-time operation.

Millions were made in the league where Moses operated, and in 2015, the BBC estimated the worldwide criminal enterprise of match-fixing was worth £85 billion.

The series exposes how syndicates target, groom and manipulate professional footballers. It also explains how the chain of command works, revealing how these organisations avoid detection.

Moses now helps to fight match fixing because of his own experiences. Speaking about the podcast, he says: “Confessions of a Match Fixer unveils the raw, unfiltered truth of my journey and it’s been great working with Troy to finally tell my story. In the podcast, we’ll unravel the highs and lows of football and uncover the chaos and betrayal of the brutal matching fixing industry.”

Troy Deeney added: “Being involved with this podcast has been enlightening. Before meeting Moses, I didn’t know what to expect.

“As each episode of recording unfolded, I was able to find out a lot about him and myself as a journalist. Both Moses and I had tough lives growing up, and football was our way out. However, our journeys were so very different. 

“This is by far my best work to date, a story of sliding doors, and the dark side of our beautiful game.”

Sports Strangest Crimes: Confessions of a Match Fixer will be available on BBC Sounds from 14 August.