Prosecutors Arrest Panamanian Soccer League Players – Match Fixing Scandal

At least three Panamanian soccer players were arrested on Tuesday morning September 3 by the National Police in coordination with the First Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime following a complaint for alleged participation in the match manipulation case using Bitcoin. Emeldo Márquez, prosecutor, explained that the two players and a former player from the Panamanian Football League and the National Ascent League are involved. 

The arrest, code named Operation Garra, which was carried out, is due to the investigation resulting from a complaint filed by the president of the Panamanian Football Federation (Fepafut), Manuel Arias, on August 17, 2023, for alleged match-fixing.  In a statement, Fepafut reported that following the arrest, these players are temporarily suspended from all football-related activities.