article_snippet.sent: It's described sometimes as the beautiful game but football has an ugly side to it as well, and it's that ugly side we are going to be looking at.'
article_snippet.sent: The Crown alleges that the plot - which aimed to profit from rigged bets - targeted the lower leagues because of the high level of scrutiny surrounding the Premier League.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Mather said betting on football was not confined to the Premier League and extended from the very top of the sport down to semi-professional leagues.
article_snippet.sent: Lower league games in the Football Conference had been targeted, Mr Mather claimed, partly because highly-paid professionals would have to be offered 'astronomical' sums to even think about becoming involved in corruption.