Club Denies Bribery Charges

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30426, 28 April 1964, Page 15

Club Denies Bribery Charges

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, April 26. The Mansfield : Town Soccer Club today described as “unbelievable” allegations in the Sunday newspaper, the “People,” that five. players had “fixed” a vital match. The newspaper, which has set off a big bribery probe.

today named the five Mansfield players. The newspaper said the five Mansfield players had provided money to bribe three players in the Hartlepool’s United team to lose a match. The Mansfield victory in the match last May helped the club to gain promotion from the fourth division to division three. Mansfield’s .manager, Mr Tommy Cummings, told reporters today the- charge was “ridiculous.” Mr Cummings said he played centre-half for Mansfield in the game and did not notice anything unusual. “It is unbelievable that anything like this could happen; 1 can’t think, it is true at all,” he said.

Club directors are to discuss the report tomorrow. One' of the nartied players said today the report was nonsense. Another said he knew nothing about it. The “People” now . has named 14 professional Soccer players in its series alleging bribery published over the last three weeks. . A Labour member of Parliament, Mr Ellis Smith, who is to ask the Home Secretary in Parliament on May 14 for a judicial tribunal, said today:— . . “A judicial tribunal would have the power to send for persons and. papers. People would have to reply to questions on oath. . “1 think this thing has got to be rooted right out to re-establish confidence.”