Officers from the National Crime Agency have taken an interest in Scotland’s international friendly against Nigeria at Craven Cottage , amid fears the game could be targeted by match-fixers.
It is believed news of the NCA’s focus may have been leaked a day before the friendly as a high-profile, pre-emptive strike. The agency, which focuses on serious and organised crime, has been in discussions with the Scottish Football Association’s security department for the past 48 hours without highlighting a specific threat to the friendly.
In a statement, the Scottish FA said: “We are liaising with the relevant authorities and will prepare for the match as normal.”
There is also no suggestion whatsoever that Scotland’s players are implicated. Bookmakers have Nigeria priced as the favourites for the London fixture.
On Tuesday, the Gambling Commission contacted the Association of British Bookmakers warning members to be “vigilant” with regards the betting markets for all five of this midweek’s international friendly games involving sides going to the World Cup. The commission also asked that any suspicious betting activity be reported immediately.
In a statement, the NCA would offer no further comment beyond: “The NCA will from time to time provide operational detail necessary for public reassurance purposes. It does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of specific operations or provide ongoing commentary on operational activity.”
World football’s governing body, Fifa, has refused to comment on the suggestion that it was contacted by the NCA about potential problems at Craven Cottage.
With Scotland unbeaten in five matches, their manager Gordon Strachan denied the timing of the Nigeria game will blunt the appetite of his players. Given the match has been scheduled after the end of the domestic season, a number of the Scots’ squad have returned from their holidays specifically for the game.
“We worked yesterday in the pouring rain and I enjoyed myself – people say it’s a lot to do with the coach’s enthusiasm but it works both ways,” said Strachan. “The enthusiasm you get from the players keeps your battery going as a coach and I like working with them. The lads are full of enthusiasm, which is great, and it’s easy to coach when the players are like that. The enthusiasm rubs off on me, it’s great and I enjoy it.
“We just have to keep trying to do the things we’ve been doing. We want to try to be more positive, to get more people in the box. That’s what we’ve been working on over the last couple of days, we want to make sure the main striker isn’t isolated. We’ve also done our usual training but we’re trying our best to get as many players forward and around the box as possible.”
Three members of Strachan’s party – Craig Bryson, Chris Martin and Craig Forsyth – were part of the Derby squad who were denied promotion to the Premier League by Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. The trio joined up with Scotland .
“It will take a wee while for them to get over that,” Strachan admitted. “But the best way to get over it is to play football. That Championship play-off final now is probably one of the most pressurised games in football.
“It can be the best day of your life or the worst day of your life, but we’ve seen clubs in the Championship who have got close to promotion bounce back the year after. We keep our fingers crossed that Derby will do the same because I thought they were a terrific side this year.”