DJ Campbell bailed after arrests in spot-fixing inquiry

The player's yellow card against Ipswich Town last week is at the centre of police enquiries, suggests reports

DJ Campbell, pictured playing for Ipswich last season (but has since joined Blackburn Rovers), is one of six men arrested over match-fixing allegations (GETTY IMAGES)

Blackburn Rovers striker D J Campbell was one of six men arrested by the National Crime Agency on Sunday as part of a spot-fixing investigation.

The 32-year-old, who played for Queen’s Park Rangers and Blackpool in the Premier League, was one of five who were bailed until April. Yesterday evening, the sixth man, understood to be Tranmere Rovers’ Ian Goodison, was also released on bail.

It is understood that Campbell is yet to be charged. His arrest was confirmed by Blackburn in a brief statement. The arrests followed revelations in The Sun on Sunday, which had the former Portsmouth player Sam Sodje on record telling an undercover reporter that he could arrange for players to be booked or sent off in return for payment.

Campbell made his name as the star of non-league Yeading’s run to the FA Cup third round in 2005, moving to Brentford after that season. He went on loan to Blackburn from QPR in February this year and was signed permanently by Rovers in July.

Under scrutiny is a yellow card Campbell received for a very late tackle on Aaron Cresswell in Blackburn’s 3-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road last week.

Oldham have confirmed that Cristian Montano, 21, was one of the six players arrested. The Colombian was named in The Sun’s report as one of those working under Sodje who was allegedly available to take payment in return for getting himself booked. Tranmere have refused to comment on whether Akpo Sodje, brother of Sam, was another of the six.

The Oldham manager, Lee Johnson, said: “Anybody who saw that report [in The Sun] will have been devastated and sick to their stomachs. However, we have to let the authorities do their job and duties, and we cannot prejudice that.

“The reason why I am in the game is because there are so many great people around the place and who are giving everything to the cause.

“It is disappointing how somebody can get themselves into that situation. The truth is that we don’t know yet what has happened for him to be in the room talking about that.”