BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) _ A match-fixing scandal in the Belgian soccer league spread to top first division club Anderlecht on Friday when the team fired two players believed to have been involved in the scheme.

The team announced that it was firing Romanian midfielder Marius Mitu and Belgian defender Laurent Delorge, who were questioned by police and justice investigators on Thursday for their role in an alleged Chinese betting ring, which is believed to have paid thousands of dollars to players to fix games.

Both had contracts until the end of 2008.

Anderlecht manager Herman Van Holsbeeck said he had a meeting with the two players Friday morning over their alleged involvement, which he made clear did not involve their current team.

Before the season started, the two players were traded to Anderlecht from another first-division side, SK Lierse, where they were believed to have been involved in match-fixing.

``Our team has not been named in connection with any match-fixing,'' said Van Holsbeeck. ``Mitu and Delorge have done nothing wrong while playing for Anderlecht.''

Of Mitu and Delorge, Anderlecht said in a statement: ``Both acknowledged that they as players at Lierse participated in deeds that were not compliant with the ethics of the sport. The trust between the club and players has been undermined. Anderlecht has decided therefore to terminate their contracts.''

Anderlecht's statement added that while the team was not involved in the scandal, it would co-operate fully with the police investigation.