Ex-Birmingham City goalkeeper Ian Bennett offered £10k to lose
Former Birmingham goalkeeper Ian Bennett today claimed he was offered £10,000 to throw a match as football reflected on match-fixing allegations.
Bennett said two would-be fixers approached him at Blues' training ground in 1995 and asked him to lose 2-0 to Liverpool in the FA Cup.
The 42-year-old said: "They called me across and asked me to sign a couple of footballs. Then, in the space of one sentence, they went from asking for my autograph to offering me £10,000 to lose 2-0 against Liverpool.
"I wasn't sure I'd heard them right. I just said, 'Sorry, nice meeting you' and I went. It never entered my head to take it. I told the security guard and he escorted them from the premises."
Liverpool eventually won the game on penalties.
Two men were due before Cannock magistrates today charged with match-fixing following a national newspaper investigation. Four other people arrested, including former Albion striker Delroy Facey, have been bailed.
Baggies boss Steve Clarke said: "We have to be vigilant and the fact there is an investigation into something untoward that may have happened is good. My own opinion is to fix a Premier League game is difficult."
