Germans Sue Match-Fixing Referee for Millions
By: Laurie | January 7th, 2008
Match fixing doesn’t pay in Germany. Or rather, it does pay, to the tune of €67,000 and a plasma TV. But if the German soccer federation has its way, it will cost you in the end.
German referee Robert Hoyzer was convicted in 2005 of manipulating or rigging several German games back in 2004.
The foundations of German sport were rocked in January [2005] when Hoyzer told state prosecutors that a Croatian-controlled betting ring based in Berlin paid him … to manipulate four games and to rig three others.
Games in the Bundesliga – Germany’s premier league – were not involved in the match-fixing scandal. But prosecutors say 23 lower division games were fixed from April to December of 2004.
Hoyzer’s career as a referee began to unravel when it was revealed that he bet and rigged a German Cup game between regional league side Paderborn and Bundesliga club Hamburger SV on Aug. 21, 2004.
With Paderborn losing 2-0, Hoyzer expelled HSV striker Emile Mpenza in the first half, and later awarded Paderborn two questionable penalties. Paderborn went on to win 4-2.
Hoyzer eventually pleaded guilty to match-fixing, served time in prison, and helped prosecutors prepare a case against a Croatian gambling ring. And the DFB paid out €1.5 million to Hamburg to cover the revenue they would otherwise have received from advancing in the Cup.
And now they want the money back.
“It’s not about whether we can get the money or not,” German soccer federation president Theo Zwanziger said when the suit was filed two years ago. “It would be irresponsible not to try because the DFB has suffered a huge image and financial loss through Mr. Hoyzer.”
Italy, are you paying attention?
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