Ex-footballer faces match-fixing trial

Delroy Facey, once a striker with Bolton Wanderers, was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery earlier this month following a National Crime Agency inquiry.

Facey, from Huddersfield, was at Birmingham Crown Court for today’s brief hearing, wearing a blue shirt, and appeared composed as he sat in the dock, listening to proceedings.

He is set to re-appear at the crown court for a plea hearing on October 27.

Appearing alongside Facey was Moses Swaibu, 25, formerly of non league Brighton-based Whitehawk FC who is accused of one count of the same charge.

Swaibu is facing re-trial after a jury failed to reach a verdict in June.

Both men are set to be tried over the allegations in April, next year.

In court, Judge Melbourne Inman QC, addressing both men, said: “I’ll adjourn your trial until April, and that will be the next occasion you attend court Mr Swaibu.

“In relation to you Mr Facey, you will need to be here on October 27 for a plea and case management hearing.”

Facey, 34, played 10 times for Bolton in the top tier of English football from 2002 to 2004, and was originally arrested in November 2013.

During his career Facey also played for West Brom, Hull, Notts County, Lincoln and Tranmere.

Both men appeared on unconditional bail.

The charges relate to a continuing football match-fixing investigation by the NCA which secured the conviction in June of Chann Sankaran, Krishna Ganeshan, alongside former non-league footballer Michael Boateng.

The three were convicted of paying footballers to influence the outcome of matches, so others could profit through betting on the result.