VIDI OVO!!
Report: Players could have been involved in German soccer scandal
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- The president of the German soccer federation says players could have been part of a game-fixing scandal involving a referee, a newspaper reported Friday, and FIFA wants the case resolved quickly with the World Cup just more than a year away.
``Even this cannot be ruled out any more,'''' federation president Theo Zwanziger said in Stuttgarter Nachrichten. ``That makes me sad.''''
Referee Robert Hoyzer said Thursday he received bribes from a Croatian-controlled betting ring in Berlin, adding ``many more people are involved,'''' he told the newspaper. Hoyzer confirmed he had been paid a ``five-digit'''' sum to fix games.
``I am particularly concerned about indications that there are links to organized crime,'''' Interior Minister Otto Schily, who is also responsible for sports.
The federation has accused Hoyzer of manipulating five games, four lower-division games plus a German Cup game. No top-division games were involved. Another game that Hoyzer did not officiate is under investigation.
Stephan Holthoff-Pfoertner, Hoyzer''s lawyer, said on television that more games were compromised and the case involved ``several people working together in different functions.''''
A call by The Associated Press on Friday to the German federation was not immediately returned.
Sepp Blatter, president of soccer''s world governing body, said in a letter sent to the federation that with the World Cup in Germany just over a year away, German soccer is ``in spotlight.''''
``The burden is therefore on the DFB to continue to give their full support to the investigating authorities and to pursue their inquiries within the association itself,'''' he said. ``We have no doubt whatsoever that the DFB will act in an exemplary manner.''''
The scandal is the worst corruption case to hit Germany in more than 30 years. In 1971, 53 players from seven clubs received penalties ranging from fines to life bans. Two clubs, Arminia Bielefeld and Kickers Offenbach, were demoted and their presidents and coaches suspended.
Berlin''s state prosecutor''s office said Hoyzer still had not spoken to prosecutors. The federation first suspected Hoyzer of manipulating a German Cup game in August, then expanded its investigation to five other games, including the one Hoyzer did not officiate.
FIFA will hold a workshop for 46 referees in Frankfurt next month. The officials will be advised, among other things, on how to handle ``attempts to place them under pressure and illegal approaches from third parties,'''' FIFA said.
By NESHA STARCEVIC, Associated Press Writer
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-germany-fixinggames