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South Korea match-fixing scandal deepens

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-27 15:40

SEOUL - Club owners from South Korea's K-League have asked a state-run sports bookmaker to stop taking bets on matches, cutting a lucrative source of revenue, after two players were arrested in a widening match-fixing scandal.

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Prosecutors allege the two players were involved in a match-fixing scheme in which they were paid up to 120 million won ($110,000) to help their sides lose in April.

The club owners said in a statement that they had requested Sports Toto (lottery) to halt running a book on all league matches.

Sports Toto said on Friday it had yet to make a decision.

Two brokers, including a former K-League player, have also been arrested in the scandal. A former national team player is also being investigated.

South Korean media reported on Friday the scandal was widening and that prosecutors were now investigating more than 10 players. ($1 = 1089.50 Korean Won)