Soccer-Belgian FA launch irregular betting probe

By Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS, May 7 (Reuters) - The Belgian Football Association is probing alleged irregular betting of over $1 million on Anderlecht's 4-1 league win over Sint Truiden last month, which was a key game in the race for the final Champions League spot. "The FA has launched an investigation into Anderlecht's first division match at home to Sint Truiden following allegations by Club Bruges chairman Michel D'Hooghe that large sums of money were bet on the match," Belgian FA spokesman Nicolas Cornu said.

"We are investigating the unusual circumstances in which the game was won and to make sure no wrongdoing took place."

Anderlecht and Sint Truiden have both denied any wrongdoing.

"I can only say this: Anderlecht has absolutely nothing to do with this affair," Anderlecht chairman Roger Vanden Stock told the club's Web site (www.rsca.be).

"If necessary we will work together with the authorities to find the truth and we will go to court to clear our name if necessary."

Sint Truiden said in a statement that chairman Roland Duchâtelet "wants to emphasise that he has all trust in the players who have nothing to do with this".

The investigation is a huge blow to the game in Belgium which had only just recovered from a match-fixing scandal in 2006 which led to arrest of over a dozen players and coaches.

A Chinese businessman allegedly at the centre of the betting ring remains on the run and is wanted by Belgian police.