European football is reeling from news of a fresh match-fixing scandal involving nine countries and up to 200 games. German prosecutors investigating the manipulation revealed on Friday that 15 people have been arrested in Germany and two in Switzerland. A series of around 50 raids were carried out on Thursday, during which documents, around €1 million in cash and valuables were seized. At a news conference the prosecutors said that about 200 games were thought to be affected, including three Champions League games and 12 Europa League games. The investigation, carried out with the European football association UEFA, has been ongoing since the beginning of 2009. The betting scandal involves huge sums of money placed with Asian bookmakers on matches in Europe and players, coaches, referees and officials are included among the suspects. In all around 100 people could be involved in the match-fixing conspiracy. Fix On in Germany as Well? Games in at least nine European leagues are being probed, including matches played in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey.
European football is reeling from news of a fresh match-fixing scandal involving nine countries and up to 200 games.
German prosecutors investigating the manipulation revealed on Friday that 15 people have been arrested in Germany and two in Switzerland. A series of around 50 raids were carried out on Thursday, during which documents, around €1 million in cash and valuables were seized.
At a news conference the prosecutors said that about 200 games were thought to be affected, including three Champions League games and 12 Europa League games. The investigation, carried out with the European football association UEFA, has been ongoing since the beginning of 2009.
The betting scandal involves huge sums of money placed with Asian bookmakers on matches in Europe and players, coaches, referees and officials are included among the suspects. In all around 100 people could be involved in the match-fixing conspiracy.
Fix On in Germany as Well?
Games in at least nine European leagues are being probed, including matches played in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey.
In the report to appear in the Monday, Sept. 1, edition of Der Spiegel newsmagazine, the Canadian journalist Declan Hill said his research had shown that an Asian syndicate wanted Ghana to lose the quarter-final match by at least two goals. Brazil went on to win 3-0 in Dortmund. Hill, whose book on match-fixing will be published in Germany on Tuesday, said three years of research had shown that a former Ghana international had acted as the middleman between Ghana's players and the head of a betting syndicate in Bangkok. The German publication said its own research had shown two matches in Germany to be suspicious after huge sums were placed on them by a Malaysian who has been convicted of attempted match-fixing.
In the report to appear in the Monday, Sept. 1, edition of Der Spiegel newsmagazine, the Canadian journalist Declan Hill said his research had shown that an Asian syndicate wanted Ghana to lose the quarter-final match by at least two goals. Brazil went on to win 3-0 in Dortmund.
Hill, whose book on match-fixing will be published in Germany on Tuesday, said three years of research had shown that a former Ghana international had acted as the middleman between Ghana's players and the head of a betting syndicate in Bangkok.
The German publication said its own research had shown two matches in Germany to be suspicious after huge sums were placed on them by a Malaysian who has been convicted of attempted match-fixing.
