A hundred football stars are "feared to have been caught" in an alleged £30M ($46M) "investment con," according to Drake & Warburton of the London DAILY MIRROR. Players said to have lost out include former Hull City player Jimmy Bullard and "Irish legend" Robbie Keane. Police believe the alleged fraud "may be the biggest swindle ever to hit the British game." Up to 100 players are "said to have been lured by promises of a huge 20%-a-month return." But the scheme "collapsed amid huge debts and detectives are probing alleged links to massive gambling" on football matches. Bookmaker William Hill has handed investigators "details of the betting account of Michael McIndoe, a retired player who led a lavish lifestyle and is said to have recruited other footballers into the investment venture." Former Coventry, Wolves and Scotland midfielder McIndoe, 35, "went bankrupt in October with disclosed debts" of £3M ($4.6M). But recovery experts "believe that is the tip of the iceberg." A source "close to the case" said, "The money lost has been astronomical." One int'l star is "understood to have invested" £1M ($1.5M). Another recently retired player lost nearly £500,000 ($766,400) (DAILY MIRROR, 1/4).
