Soccer graft buster calls for political will in China to combat match-fixing

China needs to show "political strength and leadership" to help the world rid soccer of the match-fixing scandals that threaten the game's future, according to Fifa's former security adviser.

Fraud buster Chris Eaton believes Chinese interests are at the heart of the problem that poses a real threat to the game's future.

And the ex-Interpol man says that while the issue is a "global one" the "principal player" is China with its huge black-market betting industry.

He said: "China either needs to legalise and regulate sport betting or aggressively police and disrupt the illegal market. And Chinese police need to join forces with regional and international police to share intelligence on match-fixers and betting fraudsters."

"It needs political strength and leadership for which the world of sport would be eternally grateful."

Only last weekend a Chinese national was spoken to at the Coventry vs Crawley game in England's League One. The man, who was understood to be from the mainland and in the UK on a tourist visa, was seen acting suspiciously behind one of the goals. He was interviewed by the the English FA's fraud unit but released without charge.