The analyst,according to well-placed sources,was then able to review the longer-term betting histories of these particular punters. By this stage,it was clear to the analyst that the Brownlow bets were suspicious.
AsThe Age has reported,themen under police investigation allegedly laid bets on more than 10 games in which Pell umpired and helped cast votes for the Brownlow Medal. This large number of bets,as sources familiar with the investigation said,was bound to draw attention.
The overlapping investigations by the AFL,Sports Integrity Australia and police have found that the bets in question were laid across different betting agencies - a practice that would theoretically mean those bets would stand out less than if one larger amount was bet.
PointsBet notified the AFL of the suspicious betting and this led the AFL’s integrity unit to look at other bets on the Brownlow by those under investigation.
The detection of the bets led to the arrest and questioning of Pell,a first-year field umpire,and three others,with suspicion that Pell may have passed on what Victoria Police said was “information from the voting tally”.
No charges have been laid.