World NewsGerman FA Call for Match-Fixing Investigation |
THE German Football Association have called for a "thorough" investigation into the latest betting scandal to hit the nation.
A total of 32 games from the German second division and below are currently being studied by the State Prosecutors of Bochum as part of a Europe-wide investigation into suspected match-fixing.
The German FA (DFB) and German Football League (DFL) have offered their full support to the investigators.
"Even though German football is only partially involved, the league association and DFL will unreservedly support the investigation," said DFL president Dr Reinhard Rauball.
"We owe it to the fans that we do everything within our powers to ensure a clean competition.
"First of all, we must assume innocence until proof of guilt, but one thing is clear: We cannot tolerate even one single game being manipulated."
DFB president Dr Theo Zwanziger said he was confident the authorities would get to the bottom of the suspected fraud, adding that he was "happy that the state authorities are looking into every single suspected moment with a high competence and the right degree of seriousness".
The DFB and the DFL have made it clear that any player, official, referee or manager found guilty of match-fixing in an eventual trial will suffer the consequences.
German football has been particularly sensitive to match-fixing since the disgraced former referee Robert Hoyzer was found guilty of manipulating the outcome of games under his control in 2005.
He was jailed in 2006 along with a betting ring he was working for, but he was released just 14 months later.
"Since 2005, the DFB and Bundesliga have worked closely together on the best possible surveillance of the betting market, to try and notice any irregularities as early as possible," added Rauball.
"Up to today, we have not received any warning signals.
"We will therefore strengthen our efforts, although there can be no 100% security."
Meanwhile, the Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung newspaper claims that two Osnabruck games from last season are under investigation.
According to a report, the 3-0 defeat to Augsburg on April 17 and the 2-0 defeat to Nurnberg on May 13 are suspected of being manipulated.
Osnabruck were relegated at the end of the season and their former coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz, who lost his job as a result, says he is "shocked" by the accusations.
"Not only am I shocked, but I am totally distraught," he told Sky television.
"I am totally destroyed to hear that the club for whom I worked for five years has been named.
"It may not have been confirmed, but the club has been named. I could not sleep last night at all because I was trying to go through every single scene (in those games).
"I don't want to believe it. I don't want it to be true because my world would fall apart."
Two Osnabruck players are under suspicion of throwing the game, although the State Prosecutors have yet to go into any detail about any individual matches as the investigation continues.
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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