An investigation by the NCA into suspicious betting patterns surrounding Granit Xhaka’s booking of Arsenal has revealed alleged links to the Albanian mafia and overseas cryptocurrency betting operations. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
deepen the investigation
While betting on Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka to get a reservation during an English Premier League (EPL) match is like betting on rain in Manchester, his highly bizarre yellow card in the 2021-22 season is now being investigated over alleged links to the Albanian. Mafia.
An alleged criminal plot involving the Albanian mafia
Thursday daily Mail An exclusive reveal that the UK’s National Crime Association (NCA) is now investigating Xhaka’s detention through the prism of an alleged criminal conspiracy involving the Albanian mafia and cryptocurrency.
UK Daily reports that NCA investigators have told her athletic arm Sportsmail They discovered evidence of significant numbers betting in cryptocurrencies in unregulated offshore markets, with “a lot of activity understood to have taken place in Albania.”
The Mail He cites the UK’s national law enforcement agency as saying it is also investigating allegations that Alban Aljosifi – a former Swedish-Albanian footballer who was subject to a five-year ban for match-fixing in 2017 – “made huge sums by betting on Xhaka to be booked.” “
Shaka the shocker
in january, the athlete It reported that Arsenal FC was the subject of an investigation by the Football Association (FA) into a possible match-fixing case after receiving a yellow card. Twitter users following football have speculated who the offending Arsenal player could be this is Granit Xhaka’s card shock against Leeds United, the number one contender:
Xhaka, who plays for Switzerland but speaks out loud about his Albanian heritage, was the player selected at the center of the FA’s yellow card inquiry. The Football Association discovered suspicious betting patterns towards the end of Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Leeds, with a £52,000 bet ($63,142) on Xhaka being booked in the remaining 10 minutes of the match.
What made the booking seem so farfetched was that Xhaka appeared to be deliberately trying to end the clock by taking too long to serve a free kick – a common tactic in tight matches – but an inexplicable act by a team with three goals in their favour.
In June, the FA passed its investigation to the NCA.
Likely to play on Friday
while the Mail mentioned that there There is no suggestion of wrongdoing [Xhaka’s] partNor is it clear who could be involved in any conspiracy,” the newly announced NCA scrutiny of offshore betting markets linked to the Albanian mafia and Jusufi adds a new angle to the case.
Xhaka is an almost certain starter in Arsenal’s left midfield against Crystal Palace in the opening game of the 2022-23 Premier League season on Friday.
