Belgian football has been rocked by accusations of match fixing and corruption, with the Brussel’s prosecution office revealing that 44 raids have taken place in the country.

A host of key figures from Belgian football are being investigated, with Anderlecht, Standard Liege and Club Brugge all involved in the allegations, which were first brought to the fore in 2017.

A statement from the federal prosecutor’s office detailed: “The judicial investigation concerns activities within the framework of a criminal organisation, money laundering and private corruption.

“The house searches of this morning are carried out, among other things, at the seat of various football clubs active in the Jupiler Pro League. Various documents and files have been seized.

“Further house searches have been carried out at the residence of committee members of football clubs, brokers in the football players market, referees, a former lawyer, an accountancy bureau, a trainer, journalists and some possible accomplices.

“A great number of persons have been deprived of their liberty and taken in for a thorough interrogation. The investigative judge will later on decide upon who should be held in custody or arrested.”

RSC Anderlecht responded issuing the following statement: “The federal police today carried out a search of RSC Anderlecht. The club is co-operating fully with the investigation and will make no further comments.”

Brugge chairman Bart Verhaeghe, emphasised to VTM Nieuws: “Club Brugge will give full co-operation to the investigation and has nothing to hide.”

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