Arsenal news: Ex-Fifa official salutes FA after Granit Xhaka development – ‘Watch this space’
Keith Hackett has praised the FA as Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is involved in an alleged spot-fixing investigation.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed the allegations show how seriously football is tackling the issue.
The Daily Mail reported earlier this month (17 June) that the 29-year-old is now under investigation by the National Crime Agency for a yellow card he received in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Leeds United on 18 December last year.
The FA have not launched an investigation into Xhaka but have passed on the information they gathered over six months to the National Crime Agency.
“It’s an unusual one,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“The FA have a very efficient department that deals with these matters particularly around betting and the betting companies have a great tracking system.
“They have systems through algorithms that show the spikes to show areas of suspicion.
“For me, in place there are the systems and out of those systems there will be a potential incident that has brought about some doubt.
“What it shows to me is that football and its integrity is carefully monitored. When there is suspicion appropriate action is taken.
“There will be a degree of seriousness about this which is shown by the very nature that is being dealt with higher than the football authorities. Watch this space.”
Xhaka played 30 times across all competitions in 2021-22.
The Switzerland international is under contract at the Emirates until the summer of 2024.
In other news, a finance guru has lambasted Arsenal for taking the “biggest cheque” amid a criminal investigation.