The Dutch football association says it is opening an investigation and calling for a criminal probe into the alleged fixing of two matches in the top-tier Eredivisie league.

Two matches involving Tilburg team Willem II were fixed during the 2009-10 season by players allegedly paid by a Singaporean syndicate, according to a report in the De Volkskrant newspaper.

De Volkskrant identified former Willem II and Sierra Leone midfielder Ibrahim Kargbo as ringleader, an allegation he denied in an interview with the newspaper.

The football association, the KNVB, called the detailed investigation "the most concrete case yet in the Netherlands" of alleged fixing.

As well as handing the case to criminal investigators, the association says it will carry out its own probe by interviewing players, referees and club officials and analysing video of the matches.