Europe’s Biggest Soccer Match Fixing Scandal Unearthed
In the biggest soccer match fixing scandal in Europe, a ring comprising of over 200 suspected members fixed or attempted to fix nearly 200 matches across Europe, including three in the Champions League.
UEFA representative Peter Limacher termed it as the Europe’s biggest ever soccer betting scandal, investigation of which comprises of inquiry into matches played only in 2009.
“We at (European soccer’s governing body) UEFA are stunned by the magnitude of this,” Limacher told reporters at a Bochum police news conference.
“This is undoubtedly the biggest match-fixing scandal that European football has ever seen. Now we must do everything to make sure those referees, players and officials are taken to justice.”
According to officials in Bochum, simultaneous raids were conducted in Germany, Britain, Austria and Switzerland, capturing 15 people.
Besides, officers recovered one million euros ($1.49 million) in cash or goods as part of a probe into the suspected manipulation of games across nine European leagues. Some 50 properties were searched in the four countries.
“There was a group of individuals who did or tried to influence matches with money and make illegal profit through the placing of bets,” said Bochum state prosecutor Andreas Bachmann.
