The head of Germany's football association has promised speedy and severe punishment for match-rigging in the German game as calls mount for tough sanctions. Germany's football association boss has promised swift and severe punishment for those involved in the latest betting scandal to rock European soccer. DFB chief Theo Zwanziger said he wanted to "lose no time" in the fight against match-fixing. Investigators have the results of 32 matches in Germany in their sights, including four in the second division, three in the third, 23 games in regional leagues and two under-19 games. Zwanziger said that players and officials involved in corruption in the country would be brought to account as soon as evidence was submitted.
Germany's football association boss has promised swift and severe punishment for those involved in the latest betting scandal to rock European soccer.
DFB chief Theo Zwanziger said he wanted to "lose no time" in the fight against match-fixing.
Investigators have the results of 32 matches in Germany in their sights, including four in the second division, three in the third, 23 games in regional leagues and two under-19 games.
Zwanziger said that players and officials involved in corruption in the country would be brought to account as soon as evidence was submitted.
At least 200 European soccer games are being investigated after police said that they had dismantled an alleged international criminal ring suspected of running the continent's biggest ever match-fixing scandal.German prosecutors and police said on Friday that the gang allegedly obtained more than €10m ($15m) in illegal betting proceeds by manipulating the outcome of games in nine countries, including three in the European Champions League."This is without a doubt the biggest fraud scandal to ever hit European football," said Peter Limacher of the Union of European Football Associations. "We are deeply shocked by the scale of the match-fixing."Mr Limacher said the investigation could affect the outcome of the Champions League competition because all the games under investigation took place this year. They include matches in Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia and Austria.Andreas Bachmann, head of the police team in Bochum leading the investigation, said that the estimated criminal proceeds, number of games involved and circle of suspects could increase. "This is just the tip of the iceberg," he said. "We must assume that the actual figures will be much higher."
At least 200 European soccer games are being investigated after police said that they had dismantled an alleged international criminal ring suspected of running the continent's biggest ever match-fixing scandal.
German prosecutors and police said on Friday that the gang allegedly obtained more than €10m ($15m) in illegal betting proceeds by manipulating the outcome of games in nine countries, including three in the European Champions League.
"This is without a doubt the biggest fraud scandal to ever hit European football," said Peter Limacher of the Union of European Football Associations. "We are deeply shocked by the scale of the match-fixing."
Mr Limacher said the investigation could affect the outcome of the Champions League competition because all the games under investigation took place this year. They include matches in Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia and Austria.
Andreas Bachmann, head of the police team in Bochum leading the investigation, said that the estimated criminal proceeds, number of games involved and circle of suspects could increase. "This is just the tip of the iceberg," he said. "We must assume that the actual figures will be much higher."
