Former Israeli Soccer Players Arrested in Match-Fixing Probe

Three former Israeli soccer players, two men and one woman, were arrested and detained on Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged match-fixing in the women's Premier League. The arrests mark the transition to the overt phase of a covert investigation led by the National Bureau for Economic Crime (YALAK) within Lahav 433, in cooperation with the Israel Football Association.

Investigators suspect the existence of an organized and systematic betting mechanism that operated to influence game outcomes and generate profits from gambling. The suspects, identified as former players from various leagues, are accused of operating and orchestrating this mechanism and being involved in fixing matches in exchange for financial payments.

The investigation, which has been ongoing for several months, aims to determine the scope of the operation, identify all involved parties, understand the methods used for fixing games, and ascertain the amount of money exchanged. Authorities are examining the extent of the activity and the financial transactions involved in the alleged scheme.