LOU Vincent’s former wife has told anti-corruption detectives that she confronted Chris Cairns, the ex-New Zealand captain, over match-fixing in county cricket at a Manchester hotel in 2008.
Elly Riley – who was married to Vincent during the period in which he has admitted being involved in match-fixing in five countries including England – has given a witness statement to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in which she supports her ex-husband’s claim that Cairns was involved in fixing.
Cairns on Tuesday issued a new denial of any involvement in fixing game after he was named publicly for the first time as the alleged “ringleader” who worked with Vincent.
Both Vincent and Brendon McCullum, current New Zealand captain, had identified Cairns in statements but until yesterday he had been described in public only as a “well-known international cricketer”.
But the New Zealand Herald reported that Cairns was the alleged ringleader, and The Daily Telegraph in England, which has seen Vincent and McCullum’s signed evidence, can confirm he is the person against whom the allegations have been made.
Cairns, who on Monday released a strongly-worded denial that he had ever been involved in fixing, responded to being identified by the Herald by saying he was aware he may be the accused player but again rejected suggestion of wrongdoing.
Writing on Twitter, he said: “Not rejecting I am player X . It’s the allegations I reject.”
Cairns’s comments appeared after Riley gave the ICC a witness statement supporting Vincent’s claims against Cairns, who won a High Court libel victory over Lalit Modi over the accusation that he had been involved in fixing.
Riley is one of at least three people who have made statements to the ICC backing up Vincent and McCullum’s evidence.
Riley’s evidence, as reported by ONE News in New Zealand, said that Vincent started fixing in India and continued in England, where she alleges that Cairns persuaded Vincent to approach other players when he was playing for Lancashire.
Mal Loye, who opened the batting for Lancashire with Vincent, revealed last week that he was approached by Vincent.
Riley said Vincent was first confronted by a stranger with a briefcase full of money in India but claims two weeks later: “I got a phone call from Lou and he was crying, saying he’d just lost Chris Cairns $250000 or something like that because he got things wrong.”
Her evidence to ICC added: “Lou and I kind of fell out about the whole ICL fixing thing as I didn’t want him to be involved, but Lou kept saying, ‘Don’t worry we’re all doing it’.”
She also said they continued fixing in England.
“Lou said the more players involved, the more Chris Cairns would get. So if he had the whole team then that’s where he would get the most money and this is why Lou was approaching other cricketers.”
Riley told investigators that she confronted Cairns on a night out in Manchester in 2008 with Cairns and Vincent. “I told him of my fears and that I was very concerned.
“Chris kept telling me that they were safe, that they all did it and no one was going to get caught.”
ONE News said Cairns had declined to respond to the specific allegations contained in Riley’s statement.
Cairns’ statement, issued on Monday, denied involvement in match-fixing and accused Vincent of making “desperate” accusations against others.
“These allegations against me are a complete lie. I believe there are dark forces at play.
“These forces have long arms, deep pockets and great influence. As for Lou Vincent, he appears to have confessed to match-fixing in respect of games played in numerous countries around the world, most of which I have had no connection to.
“He is in a desperate position. He faces potential prosecution and in trying to negotiate a plea bargain he appears to be willing to falsely accuse me of wrongdoing.” — The Daily Telegraph
Cairns denies new match-fixing claim
Elly Riley – who was married to Vincent during the period in which he has admitted being involved in match-fixing in five countries including England – has given a witness statement to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in which she supports her ex-husband’s claim that Cairns was involved in fixing.
Cairns on Tuesday issued a new denial of any involvement in fixing game after he was named publicly for the first time as the alleged “ringleader” who worked with Vincent.
Both Vincent and Brendon McCullum, current New Zealand captain, had identified Cairns in statements but until yesterday he had been described in public only as a “well-known international cricketer”.
But the New Zealand Herald reported that Cairns was the alleged ringleader, and The Daily Telegraph in England, which has seen Vincent and McCullum’s signed evidence, can confirm he is the person against whom the allegations have been made.
Cairns, who on Monday released a strongly-worded denial that he had ever been involved in fixing, responded to being identified by the Herald by saying he was aware he may be the accused player but again rejected suggestion of wrongdoing.
Writing on Twitter, he said: “Not rejecting I am player X . It’s the allegations I reject.”
Cairns’s comments appeared after Riley gave the ICC a witness statement supporting Vincent’s claims against Cairns, who won a High Court libel victory over Lalit Modi over the accusation that he had been involved in fixing.
Riley is one of at least three people who have made statements to the ICC backing up Vincent and McCullum’s evidence.
Riley’s evidence, as reported by ONE News in New Zealand, said that Vincent started fixing in India and continued in England, where she alleges that Cairns persuaded Vincent to approach other players when he was playing for Lancashire.
Mal Loye, who opened the batting for Lancashire with Vincent, revealed last week that he was approached by Vincent.
Riley said Vincent was first confronted by a stranger with a briefcase full of money in India but claims two weeks later: “I got a phone call from Lou and he was crying, saying he’d just lost Chris Cairns $250000 or something like that because he got things wrong.”
Her evidence to ICC added: “Lou and I kind of fell out about the whole ICL fixing thing as I didn’t want him to be involved, but Lou kept saying, ‘Don’t worry we’re all doing it’.”
She also said they continued fixing in England.
“Lou said the more players involved, the more Chris Cairns would get. So if he had the whole team then that’s where he would get the most money and this is why Lou was approaching other cricketers.”
Riley told investigators that she confronted Cairns on a night out in Manchester in 2008 with Cairns and Vincent. “I told him of my fears and that I was very concerned.
“Chris kept telling me that they were safe, that they all did it and no one was going to get caught.”
ONE News said Cairns had declined to respond to the specific allegations contained in Riley’s statement.
Cairns’ statement, issued on Monday, denied involvement in match-fixing and accused Vincent of making “desperate” accusations against others.
“These allegations against me are a complete lie. I believe there are dark forces at play.
“These forces have long arms, deep pockets and great influence. As for Lou Vincent, he appears to have confessed to match-fixing in respect of games played in numerous countries around the world, most of which I have had no connection to.
“He is in a desperate position. He faces potential prosecution and in trying to negotiate a plea bargain he appears to be willing to falsely accuse me of wrongdoing.” — The Daily Telegraph
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