Posted on 02/03/2005 2:45:21 PM PST by swilhelm73
BERLIN -- Four referees and 14 players are among 25 people suspected of fixing at least 10 games in Germany's widening soccer scandal, prosecutors said Wednesday. Police raided the homes of 19 people across the country Wednesday and seized bank accounts and property worth about $3.17 million, the Berlin prosecutors' office said in a statement. There were no arrests.
The statement did not name any of the 14 players under suspicion, but said they were from six clubs below the first-division Bundesliga.
"The suspects are under investigation for manipulating the results of at least 10 matches in the first, second and third division as well as the [2004] German Cup," the prosecutors office said in a statement. "Evidence was successfully secured today."
The head of the German football association (DFB), Theo Zwangziger, said police were now sharing their findings with the DFB. He also said referees caught cheating should receive life-time bans.
"Anyone who manipulates the results of a match cannot be a referee again," he said.
As well as disgraced referee Robert Hoyzer, prosecutors are investigating Juergen Jansen, who normally referees matches in the Bundesliga's top division, as well as match officials Felix Zwayer and Dominik Marks, the office said.
Hoyzer's admission last month that he had rigged matches set off Germany's biggest sporting scandal in more than 30 years.
The scandal was ignited when Hoyzer's role in second division Hamburg SV's 4-2 defeat by regional side SC Paderborn came under suspicion.
Jansen was pulled out of Sunday's Bundesliga match between Werder Bremen and Hansa Rostock. He again denied any involvement in the match-fixing affair. The DFB had earlier said he was not under suspicion.
Jansen's home was searched Wednesday. He was in charge of the only Bundesliga game believed to be involved in the scandal.
"We're examining whether to take legal steps against the raid," Jansen's lawyer Stephan Reiffen told Bild newspaper.
He said Jansen was also considering legal action against former Bayer Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmoeller, who has said Jansen may have cost his team the 2002 championship with a controversial decision in the final match of that season.
As well as referees, the investigation now covers several individuals linked to two brothers identified by the initial S., whom media reports have identified as Croatian gamblers.
It also covers 14 players from second division and regional clubs LR Ahlen, Chemnitzer FC, Energie Cottbus, Dynamo Dresden, Kickers Offenbach and SC Paderborn.
It said players from Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin, who were linked to the probe in several recent media reports, were not under investigation.
Three men connected with a Berlin bar frequented by Croatian gamblers have been arrested.
Hoyzer has admitted taking money from a Croatian-controlled betting ring to rig at least four games. Hoyzer gave the names of others allegedly involved in the scandal.
Hoyzer officiated the Paderborn's 4-2 win over Hamburger SV. He awarded two penalties to Paderborn, and sent off one Hamburg player. Paderborn rallied from a two-goal deficit to win. The game also drew attention because of large sums bet on Paderborn.
Paderborn's captain was suspended Monday after admitting he received a "special bonus" from a man he didn't know. The money was later split among the players. Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.
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