Ukrainian police officers have completed a special operation to end the activities of five criminal groups that organized a large-scale system of fixed football matches, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said.

"According to investigators, five organized groups worked in Ukraine for many years. Thirty-five football clubs from ten regions were involved. The organized criminal groups included the presidents of clubs, former and current players, referees, coaches, and football-related commercial entities. A total of 320 persons on 57 proven episodes have been documented," Avakov wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday.