FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- The German soccer federation has asked for a lifetime ban and a hefty fine for the referee who admitted fixing games in return for bribes from a ring of gamblers.
The federation (DFB) filed charges in its sports court against referee Robert Hoyzer, whose admission of fixing or attempting to fix games has produced the biggest corruption scandal in German soccer in more than 30 years.
Hoyzer has been arrested along with three Croatian brothers suspected of masterminding the scam. Berlin prosecutors are investigating 25 people, including 14 players and four referees, suspected of rigging at least 10 games, mostly in lower divisions.
The federation said the gravity of Hoyzer's "greed-driven" actions required a lifetime ban from soccer and a euro50,000 (US$65,000) fine.
Apart from soccer sanctions, Hoyzer faces up to 10 years in prison if charged and convicted of fraud.
The federation has already had to pledge euro2 million (US$2.6 million) in compensation to a first-division club, Hamburger SV, which lost a German Cup match because of Hoyzer's manipulation.
A second-division match will be replayed and 13 more matches are under appeal.
Associated Press
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The federation (DFB) filed charges in its sports court against referee Robert Hoyzer, whose admission of fixing or attempting to fix games has produced the biggest corruption scandal in German soccer in more than 30 years.
Hoyzer has been arrested along with three Croatian brothers suspected of masterminding the scam. Berlin prosecutors are investigating 25 people, including 14 players and four referees, suspected of rigging at least 10 games, mostly in lower divisions.
The federation said the gravity of Hoyzer's "greed-driven" actions required a lifetime ban from soccer and a euro50,000 (US$65,000) fine.
Apart from soccer sanctions, Hoyzer faces up to 10 years in prison if charged and convicted of fraud.
The federation has already had to pledge euro2 million (US$2.6 million) in compensation to a first-division club, Hamburger SV, which lost a German Cup match because of Hoyzer's manipulation.
A second-division match will be replayed and 13 more matches are under appeal.
Associated Press
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