(eca 094): Match-rigging probe rocks German football (News Feature)

By Barry Whelan Nov 20, 2009, 15:59 GMT

   Hamburg - German football was shaken Friday by news that more than 30 matches in the country's leagues are under investigation on suspicion of being fixed by an international betting ring.

   The investigation by prosecutors in Bochum comes four years after a major match-fixing scandal which led to the imprisonment of referee Robert Hoyzer.

   The latest investigation is examining four games in the second division and three in the third division as well as some 25 matches in lower leagues and at under-19 level.

   Fifteen people have been arrested in Germany and two in Switzerland as part of a European-wide probe which began at the beginning of the year.

   As with the Hoyzer scandal, which mainly involved cup games, the top-flight Bundesliga is not affected by the latest investigation which involves some 200 matches in nine European leagues.

   But it is thought gang members have sought contact with players, coaches, referees or club officials in the Bundesliga's second division as well as the lower leagues in order to manipulate matches before placing bets with European and Asian bookmakers.

   News of the latest betting scandal was greeted with shock by club officials from the Bundesliga's top two divisions

   Joerg Schmadtke, manager of first-division Hanover, said: 'I thought the precautionary measures taken after the Hoyzer case would work and I am more than amazed that it's happened again.

   'Before I would have always ruled out something like this being at all possible in German football, but it seems you can never be sure.'

   Jan Schindelmeiser, manager of first-division Hoffenhein, said: 'This is incredible. It seems we are in a parallel universe. Of course, one is glad the Bundesliga (first division) is not affected but it doesn't make things any better.

   'Now everyone involved has to see that this is investigated. The culprits have to be punished really hard.'

   Rene Rydlewicz, manager of second-division Hansa Rostock, said; 'We are shattered. We hope football and the Bundesliga is not damaged and loses its credibility.'

   Hoyzer spent 14 months behind bars after being sentenced in November 2005 to two years and five months in jail for his role in a match-fixing and betting scheme. Another ex-referee, Dominik Marks, was given a suspended sentence of one year and six months.

   Ante Sapina, 33, the man said to have masterminded the scheme, was among those arrested on Thursday, his lawyer confirmed.

Sapina was jailed for two years 11 months and his two brothers received suspended sentences on charges relating to the Hoyzer scandal.

   A total 23 games - in the German cup but also the second and third divisions - were believed to have been fixed in 2004.

   Following the Hoyzer scandal, the German football federation DFB and German Football League DFL began working closely on an 'early-warning' scheme with the Sportradar firm which closely monitors betting and the fluctuations of odds internationally.

   The state betting provider Oddset also has a control system which monitors all of its some 25,000 service points in Germany.

   No names of clubs or individuals have been released by prosecutors in Bochum, who specialise in investigating economic crime and corruption, in view of the continuing investigations.

   According to the Neuen Osnabruecker Zeitung in a report to appear Friday, second-division VfL Osnabrueck may be involved.

   A 34-year-old man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of match-rigging in connection with two games last season, the report said.

   The home of an Osnabrueck player who has since left the club was among properties searched by police in their investigations, the report said.

   According to the report, the arrested man placed successful bets with Asian bookmaker sbobet on the scores of both matches which Osnabrueck lost.