A statement from Gardai, the Irish police, said that 10 males had been arrested in Dublin, Cork and Limerick on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, in connection with football matches in the League of Ireland.

A number of properties have also been searched as part of Operation Brookweed, which began three years ago. The investigation is being led by the Gardai’s anti-bribery and corruption unit.

It follows information received from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), the Republic of Ireland's football governing body, and football’s European authority UEFA, over suspicions that some of the matches in the country’s top league had been fixed.

The 10 males, arrested Wednesday morning, are being held at various police stations across Ireland, and can be questioned for up to 24 hours.

Detective Superintendent Catharina Gunne of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau labelled match-fixing and corruption “a threat to all sports at all levels”.

She continued: “It can allow organised crime to infiltrate sport in order to use it to make illicit gains or launder proceeds of crime.”

The FAI said it “notes the latest developments in the Gardai enquiry into alleged match-fixing.”

A statement from the governing body read: “The FAI, in conjunction with UEFA, remains committed to a zero tolerance policy on match-fixing. As this is now a legal matter we will be making no further comment.”