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| Uefa's Peter Limacher called the scandal the 'biggest ever' to hit European football [GALLO/GETTY] |
German prosecutors have made 17 arrests in an investigation into match-fixing in major European football leagues.
The 15 arrests in Germany and two in Switzerland, came as part of a probe supported by European football's governing body Uefa.
The investigation has been underway since January and has targeted an international criminal gang suspected of wide-ranging match-fixing involving around 200 games in Europe – including Champions League ties.
Peter Limacher, Uefa's head of disciplinary services, said he believed it was the biggest match-fixing scandal to ever hit Europe.
"We at Uefa are stunned by the magnitude of this," Limacher said.
Raids
German prosecutors and police officials, speaking at a nationally televised news conference in Bochum, announced on Friday they had arrested the leaders of a gang suspected of manipulating games - all believed to have been held this year - to make money on betting, although no identities have been released.
"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 Andreas Bachmann, Bochum state prosecutor.
Authorities also announced that over 50 raids had been conducted in Switzerland, Germany and Britain and that evidence, valuables and cash to the value of $1.4m had been seized.
Allegations against the betting syndicate include bribing players, coaches, referees and other officials to fix games in nine European countries.
The countries under suspicion are Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia and Austria, but not England, Spain, Italy or France.
Among the games believed to have been manipulated are three Champions League games, 12 Europa League games and an Under-21 European Championship qualifier.
Authorities suspect a further 200 people of being involved.
Suspect
Morgenpost, a Berlin newspaper, reported on Thursday that a Croatian man Ante Sapina, convicted as the mastermind of a German match-fixing scandal in 2005, and his brother Milan, were among five people arrested in the German capital.
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| Sapina is believed to have been arrested for his involvement in the betting [GALLO/GETTY] |
Ante Sapina was convicted of fraud in 2005 and sentenced to 35 months in prison for fixing or attempting to fix 23 games by paying German referee Robert Hoyzer to rig matches Sapina and his brothers bet on.
The games suspected of match-fixing in Germany were played in the second division or lower.
Uefa boss Michel Platini has previously described illegal betting and match-fixing as the greatest problem facing European football, and his organisation have taken steps to implement an early warning system in an attempt to stop corruption.
Uefa has previously said it is looking into 40 suspected matches in the Champions League and Uefa Cup - the predecessor of the Europa League - from the last four seasons, mostly involving Eastern European clubs in the early qualifying rounds.
In a statement, Gianni Infantino, Uefa general secretary, said: "Uefa will be demanding the harshest of sanctions before the competent courts for any individuals, clubs or officials who are implicated in this malpractice, be it under state or sports jurisdiction.''
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