By Andrew Worden

newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.uk

THE owner of Croydon Athletic Football Club has been arrested as police probe an alleged cricket betting scam involving this week's test match between England and Pakistan.

A statement posted on its website after Mazhar Majeed was taken into custody said that the club is "devastated and appalled" at the allegations. 

Undercover reporters from the News of the World allegedly paid a middleman £150,000 and in return were told exactly when "no balls" would be bowled in the match at Lord's. Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal have all been questioned by officers from Scotland Yard.

Majeed, 35, who was born in Croydon and still lives in the borough, bought Croydon Athletic in July 2008.

The statement posted on the club's website says: "Croydon Athletic Football Club were both devastated and appalled to hear of the alleged match-fixing of international cricket matches by its owner Mazhar Majeed.

"We await the guidance of the Ryman League in the next few weeks. At this moment in time our match against Carshalton Athletic (tomorrow) is still scheduled to take place and we hope as many as possible will come along and get behind the team."

It is the second time the club has been in the news in a matter of weeks.

Last month former chairman Dean Fisher was jailed for three years after stealing £500,000 from his employers.

It was claimed in court that Fisher had used some of the money to support the club.

During Fisher's time at Croydon Athletic he managed the club's accounts and finances on behalf of Majeed.

In video footage released by the News of the World, Majeed is apparently seen with a pile of money in front of him.

Majeed's brother Azhar has said today that the allegations are "just rubbish", adding that he had "no idea" what had led to his brother "counting out that money".

Mazhar Majeed is a propety developer who founded the South Croydon-based company Bluesky Developments.

It has worked on a host of development projects across Croydon and the opening of its new office, Bluesky House, in May 2007 was attended by the mayor of Croydon.