Listen to the full interview with Dan via the Off The Ball Football Show podcast.

The issue of match-fixing has reared it's ugly head again after arrests in the UK.

But now Ireland has become embroiled in the issue as a Daily Telegraph report found that an alleged member of a betting syndicate claimed: “I do Australia, Scotland. Ireland. Europe. World Cup. World Cup qualifier."

To discuss the worrying issue, Off The Ball's Dan McDonnell explained the situation and how vulnerable Irish football is to betting syndicates.

"The alleged fixer was arrested earlier in the week in the course of a secretly recorded discussion. He listed off places and he mentioned Ireland. It is worrying from an Irish perspective that a syndicate might have had some influence," said Dan.

"There have been specific games. At one point Fran Gavin, the Airtricity League chief, had to go into a dressing room before a match between Shelbourne and Monaghan to let people know that they were aware of irregular betting patterns."

Indeed, the League of Ireland is a huge betting market beyond our shores as Dan explained:

"Betting on the League of Ireland is a far bigger market and far bigger reach than just Irish people. It's something I've encountered while going around Europe to various games. You encounter people who bet on League of Ireland football regularly and that goes beyond Europe to Asia. Betting syndicates are very interested in Irish football and they would even get in contact and offer money to people just to get team news and information. They would read form guides because they can bet individually on League of Ireland matches."  

©INPHO/Donall Farmer