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The FA are to probe claims that a Championship match was fixed after irregular betting patterns were reported by bookmakers.

The Sunday Telegraph handed over a document from British firm Spreadex outlining what it claimed was a "massive movement at around half-time" of an unspecified match in England's second tier.

"I have not seen anything like this in 10 years of working in the industry," an anonymous expert was quoted as telling the newspaper.

The FA said "we will consider any evidence which is brought to our attention.

"We are committed to thoroughly investigate any allegations of this nature."

The unusual betting patterns were noticed on Philippines-based bookies SBOBET and IBCBET, in the infamous Asian market where attempts to fix sporting events locally and in Europe are commonplace.

In 1997 the Metropolitan police foiled a plot by a Malaysian gang to rig Premier League matches by sabotaging floodlights.

A sting before Charlton's home match against Liverpool in February that year resulted in several arrests.

They had already interfered with games at West Ham and Wimbledon, and three Malaysians and a corrupt Charlton insider were prosecuted as a result.

In Germany, referees Robert Hoyzer and Dominik Marks and Croatian gambler Ante Sapina were sent to prison in 2005 for match-fixing.

The 2006 Calciopoli scandal in Italy saw Juventus relegated and Milan docked points as several clubs were punished for bribing and intimidating referees, although gambling was not cited as a major influence in that case.

Reda Maher / Eurosport