Lundekvam makes betting claims (From Daily Echo)

Me thinks they will have to result to cheating again this year in the Premiership if they have any chance of staying up!!!

I'll never forget the Saturday night in our relegation season from premiership when I saw him struggling to stand up in a Southampton nightclub, why on earth bring this up now for?

“We could make deals with the opposing captain about, for example, betting on the first throw, the first corner, who started with the ball, a yellow card or a penalty.

“Those were the sorts of thing we had influence over.”

Though he insists there was never any attempt to fix results.

Intentionaly giving away penalties to win a bet would have changed results of games. How many pens did Southampton conceed while Claus was playing for us? How many of those were conceeded to win a bet that ultimately lost us vital points?!?! Thanks Claus !!!

Don't forget that Claus has had problems with drugs drink and so on. Doesn't make him a very reliable witness,and there would have to be considerable substantiation for these allegations to go further - and that I would suggest is highly unlikely.

This is the old saints we are in a new era new owners new vision best thing the new saints can do is keep away from this!

Hate to say this but the sad thing about these allegations is that they are likely to cause irretrievable damage to Claus' reputation both at the club and in the football world generally, a sad end to an otherwise illustrious career.. gutted.I can't say I'm surprised though because it has seemed for a long time that anything goes in the UK there's a complete absence of moral values in British society both at the top and right the way through to the man on the street.

Has he got a book coming outt ? ?

I imagine its a book that he is looking to sell. What a PR mistake. the only people that would be likely to buy it are saints fans and he has just got on the wrong side of them.

On a separate note, I don’t think that everything in the sport should be a betting "market". Gambling should be "a bit of fun". Why not just bet on the outcome of the match, goal scorers ect. All this how many corners, time of first throw in, disciplinary points, in game "play" nonsense is just an attempt to fuel addiction. It’s completely unnecessary

FA cup final, Claus sent off in the first 5 mins. Never pulled that one off!!

louisa12 wrote:
Has he got a book coming outt ? ?

Whatever happened to what goes on the pitch stays on the pitch??
Claus must have been trying to sell this to the highest bidder. Wouldn't be surprised if he's a bit strapped for cash.

Always thought he was a tw@t.

louisa12 wrote:
Has he got a book coming outt ? ?

Precicesly my initial thoughts too!!

different time - different era - sad ex pro - move on

Idiot!

Why now!

No thought for the club, who paid him well!

Why would anyone listen to a Coke addled, wife beating moron like him?
Judas springs to mind, vile man

Claus has lurched from one embarrassing situation to another since his retirement. Incidents of drug and alcohol abuse, drink driving conviction, domestic violence, all resulting in unsuccessful stints in rehab have ensured that his once legendary status with fans has been well and truly eroded.

The miserable turncoats interview as seen in the Times today.



The FA is expected to investigate a reported admission of spot-fixing made by Claus Lundekvam, the former Southampton defender who now lives in retirement in his native Norway.
Lundekvam alleged that he and his former team-mates made thousands of pounds on top-flight games in the late 1990s, betting on such markets as the first throw-in or corner.
The 39-year-old, who played for the South Coast club between 1996 and 2008, said: “It’s not something I’m proud of. For a while we did this almost every week. We made a fair bit of money.
“The results were never on the agenda. That is something I would never have done. We were professional competitors.
“We could make deals with the opposing captain about, for example, betting on the first throw, the first corner, who started with the ball, a yellow card or a penalty. Those were the sorts of thing we had influence over.”
Lundekvam, in an interview in Norway, claimed that players used club staff to place wagers and added that similar scams happened at other clubs. He said that he did not influence results of games and claimed that the activity was merely fun.
“We were far from alone in this but that doesn’t help,” he said. “I know it happened at other clubs. It was accepted... in matches at the end of the 1990s. We footballers live in a bubble. It was part of the lifestyle and the excitement. Whatever we could bet on, we bet on.”
Matthew Le Tissier, Lundekvam’s former team-mate, revealed in his autobiography Taking Le Tiss that he colluded in a failed £10,000 betting scam against Wimbledon in 1995.
Attempting to make money from a throw-in taking place in the first minute, Le Tissier failed in his attempts to send the ball out of touch.
Le Tissier’s plan involved spread betting, rather than traditional fixed-odds gambling, and Lundekvam’s claims sound similar.
“The bookies were open to betting on these kind of things and it was easy for us to manipulate,” added Lundekvam, who has suffered from depression and alcoholism. “I do not think it was sporting or morally right for us to do what we did. But we had a chance to do it then, and that’s just how it was.
“Even though what we did was illegal, it was quite fun to be part of. We made a fair amount of money on this. I can’t really remember how much. But we made money on it even though the odds weren’t always high.
“Even when the odds weren’t high, they were safe bets.”

what a plank! long gone are the days of claus banging in the goals week in week out...

My first ever post on here, been reading saints-related comments for years though. Only registered from Norway to defend Claus, a saints legend! He's had his share of problems, cocaine, pills, alcohol, couldnt handle not being a part of the game anymore. Hit rock bottom with the car incident, and the police invaded his home, and he became suicidal and entered that Tony Adams rehab, and got sorted, moved back to his home town in norway and started as a premier league TV-pundit. And is also being very active concerning drug/alcohol abuse amongst players/ex-players in norway. He's also helped a few young fotballers with gambling/drinking issues, and due to his connections in football, got them to the Tony Adams clinic, the same that sorted himself out. He is not writing a book, and this is not a trick to get PR. He is just highlighting some of the dark sides of the game. He's been very outspoken and honest concerning his own fall from grace aswell. Betting in fotball, did you guys think its only the italians that do this? It's all over, and it needs to be dealt with.
I kind of wish Claus didnt bring this up, with the publicity for saints, but he did not mean any harm, he loves the club, and he always gave his best for in the shirt. The abuse ruined his last days in his career, but the disease could have ended his life, glad it didnt. Claus has gone from a saint, to sinner and back to be a saint again!

Will love to see him in the fotballstudio, following saints comeback in the premier league, COYR!!

Stupid, stupid man.

I thought that Le Tissier was a complete idiot when he revealed this type of activity in his book.

The same applies here although I am surprised he admits it extended to yellow cards. That is a big step away from giving away a throw in.

If you think about it you cannot claim it was for fun. They say footballers aren't that bright, but this shows Claus must be a complete plank.

Giving away throws, corners, yellow cards or anything for that matter affects the game and therefore potentially the result.
Even if the result isnt what is being bet upon.

Fans want to see competitive games with their team playing for a win. Its the whole point of turing up. I do not want to sit there wondering if some utter brain dead numpty is more worried about giving away the first throw in for some easy cash.

Trying to trivialise it is not justification. Is he trying to sell a book (probably) is he clear of any punishment (not sure).

This is fraud and is a criminal offence. Le Tissier got away with this and he was lucky because he was essentially trying to tell a funny anecdote about a particular game, and it back fired. The police didn't pursue it mainly because it would have been hard to put a substantive case together and would have been very expensive for a police investigation.

This is a much bigger allegation covering not just his team but opposing teams as well. It also implies it was regular and for "quite a bit of money".

Any players involved will deny that results were ever in question. There is a good reason for denying it !! If you light that particular blue touch paper it will lead to a FIFA investigation and that could be a very big can of worms indeed.

I would also have thought the bookies would be steaming in as they were the ones that were potentially defrauded.

I hope this is cleared up quickly but it is a simple fact that this is the thin end of a very large wedge.

A cloud of silence will probably now fall on this. Bit it makes you wonder if one day someone who wants to make some cash and who is desperate enough, will reveal that match fixing goes on. Having seen what happened in Italy it would be a sad day if that ever gets proven here in England.

Licky_Rambert wrote:
what a plank! long gone are the days of claus banging in the goals week in week out...

Eh?....those days never existed!

CL has unfortunately acted like a complete doughnut since retiring and continues to do so.

Can also add that former norwegian players Erik Thorstvedt (Tottenham) & Lars Bohinen (nott forrest & blackburn) have stated to the media in norway that this was not uncommon in England. And that they're surprised that this surprises the media in england

Walter K wrote:

Licky_Rambert wrote:
what a plank! long gone are the days of claus banging in the goals week in week out...

Eh?....those days never existed!

Sarcasm is a seven letter word my friend :-)

I wonder if he put a bet on himself scoring his first goal against Wolves?

It's a shame to hear this news, but as NorSaint has pointed out, Claus is trying to educate his fellow professionals in how not to participate in the beautiful game.

SO50 Saint wrote:
I'll never forget the Saturday night in our relegation season from premiership when I saw him struggling to stand up in a Southampton nightclub, why on earth bring this up now for?

He's brought it up because the Norwegian press are asking. Norway has been hit by match fixing allegations and the press is all of a tizzy. Claus has been extremely open and honest in the media about his drink/drugs/gambling problems and as such is a minor hero here. So whenever anything like this is on the agenda they're after him for a quote. What he's saying has been reported at the "naughty, but hardly shocking" end of the scale in Norway - trust the Sun to blow it all up. By comparison, the papers are also carrying a nice tale about Sevilla, who at the time were already relegated, throwing a match to get arch rivals Betis relegated too. Their Norwegian keeper rang his mates and told them to get some money on the game. One of those mates was also a pro in the PL, Martin Andresen, now manager at Vålerenga.

NorSaint wrote:
My first ever post on here, been reading saints-related comments for years though. Only registered from Norway to defend Claus, a saints legend! He's had his share of problems, cocaine, pills, alcohol, couldnt handle not being a part of the game anymore. Hit rock bottom with the car incident, and the police invaded his home, and he became suicidal and entered that Tony Adams rehab, and got sorted, moved back to his home town in norway and started as a premier league TV-pundit. And is also being very active concerning drug/alcohol abuse amongst players/ex-players in norway. He's also helped a few young fotballers with gambling/drinking issues, and due to his connections in football, got them to the Tony Adams clinic, the same that sorted himself out. He is not writing a book, and this is not a trick to get PR. He is just highlighting some of the dark sides of the game. He's been very outspoken and honest concerning his own fall from grace aswell. Betting in fotball, did you guys think its only the italians that do this? It's all over, and it needs to be dealt with.
I kind of wish Claus didnt bring this up, with the publicity for saints, but he did not mean any harm, he loves the club, and he always gave his best for in the shirt. The abuse ruined his last days in his career, but the disease could have ended his life, glad it didnt. Claus has gone from a saint, to sinner and back to be a saint again!

Will love to see him in the fotballstudio, following saints comeback in the premier league, COYR!!

He has or did have a shirt hanging in a bar in Bergen,could never look at it when I walked in. Always thought he was a tw@t.

Terry Paine was the greatest ever Saint.

Anybody at maine road 1994 - time added at 3-3 and our keeper ( cant remmber who he was !! ) gets a back pass and instead of hoofing it side foots it straight to niall quinn. luckily he was even slower than richard hall ! final whistle - always wondered

Alicesdad wrote:
Stupid, stupid man.

I thought that Le Tissier was a complete idiot when he revealed this type of activity in his book.

The same applies here although I am surprised he admits it extended to yellow cards. That is a big step away from giving away a throw in.

If you think about it you cannot claim it was for fun. They say footballers aren't that bright, but this shows Claus must be a complete plank.

Giving away throws, corners, yellow cards or anything for that matter affects the game and therefore potentially the result.
Even if the result isnt what is being bet upon.

Fans want to see competitive games with their team playing for a win. Its the whole point of turing up. I do not want to sit there wondering if some utter brain dead numpty is more worried about giving away the first throw in for some easy cash.

Trying to trivialise it is not justification. Is he trying to sell a book (probably) is he clear of any punishment (not sure).

This is fraud and is a criminal offence. Le Tissier got away with this and he was lucky because he was essentially trying to tell a funny anecdote about a particular game, and it back fired. The police didn't pursue it mainly because it would have been hard to put a substantive case together and would have been very expensive for a police investigation.

This is a much bigger allegation covering not just his team but opposing teams as well. It also implies it was regular and for "quite a bit of money".

Any players involved will deny that results were ever in question. There is a good reason for denying it !! If you light that particular blue touch paper it will lead to a FIFA investigation and that could be a very big can of worms indeed.

I would also have thought the bookies would be steaming in as they were the ones that were potentially defrauded.

I hope this is cleared up quickly but it is a simple fact that this is the thin end of a very large wedge.

A cloud of silence will probably now fall on this. Bit it makes you wonder if one day someone who wants to make some cash and who is desperate enough, will reveal that match fixing goes on. Having seen what happened in Italy it would be a sad day if that ever gets proven here in England.

This isn't really News, it is History and has been well documented and discussed, time to move on and make sure this stupidity doesn't happen again, I can only think more control should be made over the Bookmakers and how they operate betting at Live games.

The article shows that what grey cells Claus once had have been eroded by a poor wee soul who can't cope with every day life, but results in making a few quid from the press. Claus needs to grow up and face up to his responsibilities to be a husband and father to his children. If Claus was breaking the law by being involved in match fixing. He should face justice like all other individuals in society who break the law. He once was a role model to young people. He has let us down and he has let him self down. One thing is for certain such behaviour would be unexceptable at the Southampton of 2012.

rewind to 2009 claus was asked to pay towards his testimonial,a lot of fans where up in arms about the treatment of a "legend" they might feel different now.upside is bookies got stuffed

NorSaint wrote:
My first ever post on here, been reading saints-related comments for years though. Only registered from Norway to defend Claus, a saints legend! He's had his share of problems, cocaine, pills, alcohol, couldnt handle not being a part of the game anymore. Hit rock bottom with the car incident, and the police invaded his home, and he became suicidal and entered that Tony Adams rehab, and got sorted, moved back to his home town in norway and started as a premier league TV-pundit. And is also being very active concerning drug/alcohol abuse amongst players/ex-players in norway. He's also helped a few young fotballers with gambling/drinking issues, and due to his connections in football, got them to the Tony Adams clinic, the same that sorted himself out. He is not writing a book, and this is not a trick to get PR. He is just highlighting some of the dark sides of the game. He's been very outspoken and honest concerning his own fall from grace aswell. Betting in fotball, did you guys think its only the italians that do this? It's all over, and it needs to be dealt with.
I kind of wish Claus didnt bring this up, with the publicity for saints, but he did not mean any harm, he loves the club, and he always gave his best for in the shirt. The abuse ruined his last days in his career, but the disease could have ended his life, glad it didnt. Claus has gone from a saint, to sinner and back to be a saint again!

Will love to see him in the fotballstudio, following saints comeback in the premier league, COYR!!

I have some sympathy with this point of view, but only if Claus now has the decency to co-operate with the FA and possibly the Police to understand the extent of the issue, otherwise it's just hot air!

Let's not forget that this is a man that bought a one way ticket to Rio, to live in a white powder paradise until his money ran out, only to miss the flight because he got too twisted the night before!

I don't see him follow this through personally

Claus is and always has been a saints legend! yes he has made mistakes but who hasnt, le god admitted to 1. we saints fans like to think of our club as a big family of players staff and fans, so when a member of our family has problems and steps out of line what should we do? do we call him names and shout abuse at him or should we support him?
look at whats happening down the road with the fishy few, current players being abused and physically threatened for not wanting to leave without monies owed. are we to be compared to the fish fiddlers? no no no no no
if or when this is investigated surely only the player/s involved will/should be punished. in other sports like cricket when players were prosecuted the teams were not punished, pakistan players sent to jail yet the team can still play as normal. same thing in county cricket. i know that things are different in italy but the clubs where involved directly and punished for that.
SFC have not been linked to this situation and so this should not affect the aqua-buses trip to the champions league.

saintshorse101 wrote:
Claus is and always has been a saints legend! yes he has made mistakes but who hasnt, le god admitted to 1. we saints fans like to think of our club as a big family of players staff and fans, so when a member of our family has problems and steps out of line what should we do? do we call him names and shout abuse at him or should we support him?
look at whats happening down the road with the fishy few, current players being abused and physically threatened for not wanting to leave without monies owed. are we to be compared to the fish fiddlers? no no no no no
if or when this is investigated surely only the player/s involved will/should be punished. in other sports like cricket when players were prosecuted the teams were not punished, pakistan players sent to jail yet the team can still play as normal. same thing in county cricket. i know that things are different in italy but the clubs where involved directly and punished for that.
SFC have not been linked to this situation and so this should not affect the aqua-buses trip to the champions league.

couldn't agree more.well said.decent centre back when he had a strong player like richards or svennson alongside him.Mind you will be looking at the times of the first throws next few games ( yes am joking !! )

This isn't that big a deal. It was something that happened and now Claus is being honest enough to admit it. Revealing the truth is always a justifiable action.

Plus, you have to remember that even though it wasn't that long ago Southampton players earned nowhere near what the Premiership high rollers of today get. If someone offered you 50 large to boot the ball out for a throw in you'd probably do it, wouldn't you?

NorSaint wrote:
My first ever post on here, been reading saints-related comments for years though. Only registered from Norway to defend Claus, a saints legend! He's had his share of problems, cocaine, pills, alcohol, couldnt handle not being a part of the game anymore. Hit rock bottom with the car incident, and the police invaded his home, and he became suicidal and entered that Tony Adams rehab, and got sorted, moved back to his home town in norway and started as a premier league TV-pundit. And is also being very active concerning drug/alcohol abuse amongst players/ex-players in norway. He's also helped a few young fotballers with gambling/drinking issues, and due to his connections in football, got them to the Tony Adams clinic, the same that sorted himself out. He is not writing a book, and this is not a trick to get PR. He is just highlighting some of the dark sides of the game. He's been very outspoken and honest concerning his own fall from grace aswell. Betting in fotball, did you guys think its only the italians that do this? It's all over, and it needs to be dealt with.
I kind of wish Claus didnt bring this up, with the publicity for saints, but he did not mean any harm, he loves the club, and he always gave his best for in the shirt. The abuse ruined his last days in his career, but the disease could have ended his life, glad it didnt. Claus has gone from a saint, to sinner and back to be a saint again!

Will love to see him in the fotballstudio, following saints comeback in the premier league, COYR!!

Hi Claus (or Claus's agent).

Anybody who thinks Claus is a legend must still be in their teens.paine,Davis,ch
annon.le tissier deffo.Claus,don't think so!

It doesn't mean he threw games, just bets on first throw-in, corner, who would kick off. Easy to manipulate and make money from without actually chucking a game. However, he's a tool for telling the media this and a tool for doing it. Then Benali is on the BBC site saying it never happened! But he told me and about 200 other people he knew all about the incident mentioned in Le Tiss' autobiography a few months ago at a charity do! They all used to do it. It's gone now, it doesn't mean we will get into trouble so really, although it's a shock, the only people who might have to answer to the police are the ex-players. What do you think will happen, Cortese gets thrown in jail for 20 years? Come on people, I know the weather is sh1t but half of you need to call the Samaritans and cheer the fcuk up.

billythesaint wrote:
It doesn't mean he threw games, just bets on first throw-in, corner, who would kick off. Easy to manipulate and make money from without actually chucking a game. However, he's a tool for telling the media this and a tool for doing it. Then Benali is on the BBC site saying it never happened! But he told me and about 200 other people he knew all about the incident mentioned in Le Tiss' autobiography a few months ago at a charity do! They all used to do it. It's gone now, it doesn't mean we will get into trouble so really, although it's a shock, the only people who might have to answer to the police are the ex-players. What do you think will happen, Cortese gets thrown in jail for 20 years? Come on people, I know the weather is sh1t but half of you need to call the Samaritans and cheer the fcuk up.

Haha - agreed.

So frustrating to see our great teams' name being dragged through the gutter once more.
This management has taken this club to new levels of performance and discipline since they have taken over.
Saints have earned great respect in football circles.
Lets hope,the FA investigate this issue and involve the Police if deemed necessary.
This may well open a real can of worms for Saints but they should be seen to lead the way if necessary, to ensure professional footballs' credibility .

Our game must be clean!
COYR

bullsbags wrote:
Anybody who thinks Claus is a legend must still be in their teens.paine,Davis,ch

annon.le tissier deffo.Claus,don't think so!

I see you mention Davis among the great.. Can't see Lundekvam is any less of a legend than him. Spent 12 years with us, and saints had some of the best spells in premier football during this. I agree that the "legend" term is used too often, but for me as a norwegian saint, he is up there.

NorSaint wrote:

bullsbags wrote:
Anybody who thinks Claus is a legend must still be in their teens.paine,Davis,ch


annon.le tissier deffo.Claus,don't think so!

I see you mention Davis among the great.. Can't see Lundekvam is any less of a legend than him. Spent 12 years with us, and saints had some of the best spells in premier football during this. I agree that the "legend" term is used too often, but for me as a norwegian saint, he is up there.

Before. Above average player and good servant.............
....
After. Embarrassment.
The verve sang 'the drugs don't work. Says it all!

Norsaint
I presume you realise I was talking about Ron not Kelvin
I'll concede Claus is a saints legend of the 21st cen
COMPROMISE

Walter K wrote:
Claus has lurched from one embarrassing situation to another since his retirement. Incidents of drug and alcohol abuse, drink driving conviction, domestic violence, all resulting in unsuccessful stints in rehab have ensured that his once legendary status with fans has been well and truly eroded.

Looks like you got a mention Walter....
http://www.wsc.co.uk
/wsc-daily/1149-july
-2012/8799-claus-lun
dekvam-s-gambling-cl
aims-damage-premier-
league

Clause Lund...whatever
Saints version of Paul Gascoine without the talent

St Retford wrote:
This isn't that big a deal. It was something that happened and now Claus is being honest enough to admit it. Revealing the truth is always a justifiable action.

Plus, you have to remember that even though it wasn't that long ago Southampton players earned nowhere near what the Premiership high rollers of today get. If someone offered you 50 large to boot the ball out for a throw in you'd probably do it, wouldn't you?

Couldnt agree more St Retford, he's being honest for goodness sake, if they were all at it I imagine there are a few other old 'legends' quaking in their boots over this. When it all comes to light will they be getting the same vitriolic treatment Claus is getting for being open and brave enough to admit it?
I think the way bookies work should be questioned, if they give odds on these non match fixing occurrences of course people (and players) are going to take advantage of it, the bookies themselves have a lot to answer for imo. If they don't take bets of this kind, it won't happen..simples

I haven't commented for a while but feel compelled to remind people that when paired with Svensson, Claus was a major part of the meanest defence bar none in the premier league. Although due to injury to both players this time was limited it still, for me anyway, puts Claus in my all time Saints XI. What has happened since he left the club is very sad but has nothing to do with his service to the club. He is obviously willing to accept the consequences of his statement and I personally
wish him well and thank him for 12 years of entertainment.