RACING: Champion jockey Kieren Fallon has spoken for the first time about the Ballinger Ridge affair and insisted he is completely innocent of allegations of race-fixing.

In a four-page article described as the "sports scandal of the decade", the News Of The World alleged on Sunday that Fallon told undercover journalists before a race at Lingfield last Tuesday week that eventual winner Rye would beat his mount. But Fallon told ITV News yesterday that claims of race-fixing were "completely ridiculous".

And he said he repeatedly refused to accept any money or gifts for tips, as that would have landed him in hot water with the racing authorities. "I've been very stupid. We've been warned against this many times. I was totally innocent of what was going on but have ended up being very stupid," he said.

"I've let so many people down, so many racing people and people who have supported me over the years. It's just turned out terrible." Fallon said he was under the impression he was meeting people to advise them on how to become involved in the racing industry.

His wife Julie said: "Kieren is usually really helpful and will try to help anybody. Even though I said to Kieren it didn't really ring true and I thought he was being set up, it didn't matter to him because all he wants to do is help people."

Asked if he had deliberately fixed or lost a race, Fallon said: "No. These are completely ridiculous allegations. For one, it's impossible to fix a race because of the amount of horses that run and the amount of people involved.

"When the first couple of horses started winning for them (the News Of The World undercover team), they did offer me money and I said 'what do you mean? Jockeys can't accept any money'.