POLICE are investigating claims of match-fixing in a Scottish Cup first round match.

A complaint has been made to Lothian and Borders Police following Hawick Royal Albert's 7 - 0 defeat to league rivals Huntly.

It is alleged that a high number of bets were placed on the East of Scotland First Division side loosing by that scoreline at odds of around 50 - 1.

Alongside betting on the score, a number of punters are also believed to have bet on Hawick conceding a penalty in the first half of the match.

Defender Gavin Watson was sent off after giving away a penalty by deliberately tipping the ball over the bar with his hand.

Hawick club secretary, Douglas Purves, confirmed an internal investigation had been launched into the match-fixing claim.

He said: "The club will move into a full investigation. My intention is to go to the training ground tonight to interview all the players who were involved in the game.

"The club didn't know anything about it and can not make any statement until further notice."

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has said it will co-operate fully with the investigation by Lothian and Borders Police.

Chief Executive Gordon Smith said it would take action against anyone found guilty of match-fixing.

He said: "There would probably have to be sanctions against any guilty parties but I would hope it would be untrue.

"There is a police investigation into it and we at the SFA will help in any way we can, but this goes a bit beyond us.

"Match fixing is very distasteful and unacceptable so we certainly hope that it proves to be a wrong allegation, but we'll wait and see."

Graham Sharpe from bookmakers William Hill said it was too early to say whether there had been any irregular betting patterns in connection with the game.

"We are going back and taking a look," he said.

However, he said bookmakers would not take bets worth thousands of pounds on Scottish Cup games such as this fixture.

The match was one of 17 first round ties played in the competition at the weekend.

Hawick Royal Albert currently sit at the bottom of the East of Scotland League first division. They have lost six of their seven league matches so far this season.

On the Huntly website the match stats reveal that they had 37 attempts at goal – 19 on target and 18 off target.

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