Football matches investigated for match-fixing – DW – 09/08/2024

German police have confirmed they are investigating 17 football matches in the country’s lower leagues on suspicion of manipulation linked to sports betting platforms.

Authorities in the western states of Hesse and Saarland said they were investigating “striking” matches in their jurisdictions, while Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) said it was “involved in the process in its role as central coordinator”.

The investigations follow the first report by the Hamburger Morning Post newspaper this weekend, which shows that matches from the German third division (3. League), semi-professional fourth level (Regional) and amateur fifth class (Upper League) may have been manipulated for gambling purposes since November 2022.

What exactly is being investigated?

In the 17 matches in question, authorities are investigating suspicious refereeing decisions and unusual behaviour by goalkeepers and defenders.

It is said that the discussions between the manipulators took place digitally on the dark web. In chat protocols it was revealed that illegally obtained profits would be paid out in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

The Hamburger evening paper newspaper reported on two incidents in the local fifth line Oberliga Hamburg Last week, so-called data scouts were found at matches passing on live information to betting platforms, where it was no longer possible to bet on the matches after the men were ordered to leave.

The German Football Association (DFB) said it had no concrete evidence but was in contact with authorities and its own monitoring partner Genius Sports. “Further comment is not possible due to the ongoing investigations,” it said.

Betting on amateur sports is illegal in Germany, but the law does not apply to foreign bookmakers.

Late last year, prosecutors launched an investigation into the unusually high number of bets on a fourth division match with FSV Frankfurt, following a tip from a betting shop.

According to Hannes Beuck, founder of Gamesright, a company that supports consumers who have lost money in online casinos, the chance of match-fixing in amateur sports is greater because players and referees earn less, if they earn any money at all.

Memories of Hoyzer’s match-fixing scandal

The new investigations bring back memories of the infamous 2005 match-fixing scandal in Germany, in which former referee Robert Hoyzer was caught manipulating matches in the second division (Bundesliga 2), the German Cup and Regional competition in collaboration with a Croatian gambling mafia. Hoyzer was sentenced to two years and five months in prison.

Referee Felix Zwayer was also involved in the scandal. He was suspended for six months for failing to immediately report a €300 ($333) bribe from Hoyzer in 2004. Zwayer denies taking the money and is still a senior referee with the DFB and UEFA, although the affair continues to haunt him to this day.

In December 2021, former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham was furious after a defeat to Bayern Munich, which was refereed by Zwayer: “You give the biggest game in Germany to a referee who has already manipulated a game, what do you expect?”

Bellingham and Zwayer crossed paths again this summer in Germany, when Zwayer was appointed referee for the Euro 2024 semi-final between England and the Netherlands in Dortmund. Prior to that, Bellingham’s comments and the 2005 match-fixing scandal had attracted international attention.

During the match, Zwayer awarded a penalty to England with the help of the video referee. Although this was debatable, it did not detract from his performance.

mf/nm (dpa, AP)