DENIALS AND ACCUSATIONS AS MATCH-FIXING SCANDAL GROWS

Adjust font size:

An investigation into match-fixing claims involving lower-division teams has evolved to include a prominent German national team player. Frankfurt state prosecutors arrested four players for allegedly planning on fixing games in the second division and amateur regional leagues. But a newspaper report – which was quickly refuted – claimed that national team and Bundesliga Bayern Munich midfielder Sebastian Schweinsteiger was also involved.

Initially, Chief prosecutor Thomas Bechtel said four players had been arrested last month. Officials said players had been approached to fix at least five games with offers of several thousand Euros. At least one was accepted. Officials did not name the clubs or players, claiming it would hamper their investigation, which is just getting underway.

The German Football League (DFB) acknowledged the investigation and results, but said it was not on the same level as the fraud scandal involving former Bundesliga referee Robert Hoyzer. Hoyzer was sentenced to two years and five months in prison for fixing several matches after receiving payments from a Croatian betting ringleader.

"We have to state clearly that, according to the results of the ongoing investigation, no referee is involved and no first division club is concerned," DFB chief executive Theo Zwanziger said in a statement.

However, Munich daily newspaper tz claimed that officials had questioned Schweinsteiger and two players from second division club TSV 1860 Munich. In response, Bayern Munich’s lawyers have already started legal action against the newspaper, with Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness saying: “We will sue 'tz' for character assassination.”

Munich prosecutors also refuted the newspaper’s claims.

“We have not listed anybody as accused, we have not arrested anybody and we have not invited anybody (for questioning),” a spokesman for the Munich prosecutors told Reuters.