Police say they need hard evidence to crack down on match-fixing cartels, after coming under pressure to arrest suspected ringleaders of networks which targeted hundreds of football games in Europe and beyond

Europol’s 19-month investigation, code-named Operation Veto, found 680 games in recent years suspicious.

Interpol told AFP its match-fixing task force currently has 28 members working in Singapore, which is also the site of a new Asian base for the global police body.

Europol said that at least 425 referees, players and other officials were suspected of involvement, with matches rigged so that major sums of money could be won through betting.

Most of the allegedly fixed matches were played in the Turkish, German and Swiss championships, but other matches around the world are also concerned.

Criminals made over eight million euros (S$13.3 million) in profits from betting on fixed matches.

German chief investigator Friedhelm Althans said that showed "the true horrifying nature of the problem" and the implications were stark, including financial losses for legal betting firms, clubs, players and the trust of the supporting public.

"Operating from Singapore by heads of this organisation, bribes of up to 100,000 euros per match were paid in cash, which was taken all over the world by money couriers," he added.