Officials ban 81 Bayern fans for Mainz clash

January 19, 2010

The German Football Federation (DFB) on Tuesday announced they have banned 81 Bayern Munich fans, who are currently under police investigation, from attending Saturday’s Bundesliga clash against Mainz.

Police are investigating a disturbance last August in Wuerzburg, Bavaria, which involved 130 Bayern fans after their team lost 2-1 at Mainz and three officers were injured after clashes at the town’s railway station.

Saturday’s return game at Munich’s Allianz Arena has seen 81 fans banned, although there are court cases pending for charges of assault and breach of the peace against only 22 of those who have been excluded.

Bayern are currently third in the Bundesliga, two points behind leaders Leverkusen, while Mainz are 10th in the table.

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: afp officials, allianz, allianz arena, Arena, bavaria, Bayern, bayern munich, breach of the peace, Bundesliga, clash, clashes, court cases, football, German, german football federation, german football federation dfb, LEVERKUSEN, mainz, Munich, PARIS, police investigation, return game, wuerzburg

Germany shines spotlight on lower league “fixing”: TV

December 1, 2009

More than 60 matches have been fixed in Germany’s second division and lower leagues, broadcaster ARD reported on Monday, citing a witness while a third division player was sacked after admitting to wrongdoing.

The public prosecutor in the western city of Bochum had earlier this month indicated that 32 suspect matches had been identified.

However, ARD’s investigative programme Fakt quoted a witness from Hamburg of Serbian origin that more matches were involved and that a second division side had been relegated as a result.

Third division side SV Sandhausen said meanwhile it had dismissed a player, Marcel Schuon, following the Bochum investigation which indicated wrongdoing while he was playing for Osnabruck.

“Sandhausen has never been mired in scandal and can have nothing to do with this,” manager Tobias Gebert said.

Schuon’s lawyer told the press that his client had agreed to influence game scores but added that the player had not gone through with the plan.

According to the ARD witness, the matches under the spotlight include five from the second division while “in 80 percent of cases the manipulations succeeded and we got the outcome we wanted.”

The witness said he was close to Ante Sapina, a German of Croatian origin who is alleged to have helped to instigate a betting ring.

He added that one club was relegated from the second division after two matches in a row were rigged.

The four teams who went down were Essen, Unterhaching, Burghausen and Braunschweig.

Aside from Schuon, the skipper of regional league side SC Verl, Patrick Neumann, has also been caught up in the Bochum dragnet. His club suspended him last week.

Spiegel Online magazine said earlier that UEFA had suspended a Ukrainian referee believed to have been caught up in the affair.

Last week, the German Football Federation (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) announced the creation of a task force here to probe the betting scandal, which has rocked European football.

The DFB and DFL said they would join forces to probe the affair.

“A sports federation has a duty to fight organised crime with international implications,” DFB president Theo Zwanziger said.

Police have since raided addresses across Europe, smashing what they believe is a 200-strong band bribing players, referees and coaches in nine countries to influence matches that they would then bet huge sums on.

Around 200 games played this season in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Austria are now under suspicion.

None of the 200 suspected matches were in top flight European leagues like England’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s La Liga or Germany’s Bundesliga.

But the gang is still thought to have earned as much as 10 million euros (15 million dollars) in huge bets with bookmakers in Europe and Asia, primarily in China. Fifteen people were arrested in Germany and Switzerland in the raids.

Two of those arrested reportedly include two Croatian brothers living in Berlin – Ante and Milan Sapina – who were at the centre of a match-fixing scandal that rocked Germany in 2004.

The German scandal saw referee Robert Hoyzer jailed in 2005 after admitting receiving almost 70,000 euros (104,000 dollars) and a plasma television from the Croatian brothers to throw games.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: ante sapina, Asia, burghausen, dfl, game scores, gebert, german football federation, german football federation dfb, german football league, Germany, Hamburg, Liga, manipulations, marcel, Marcel Schuon, Milan, neumann, public prosecutor, referee, regional league, skipper, Spain, spiegel, spiegel online, theo zwanziger, Turkey, wrongdoing

FIFA call crisis talks after qualifiers, betting scandal

November 24, 2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called an extraordinary general meeting for December 2 following the Thierry Henry handball incident and an ongoing investigation into match-fixing in Europe.

A FIFA statement released by world football’s ruling body said Monday: “Due to recent events in the world of football, namely incidents at the play-offs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, match control (refereeing) and irregularities in the football betting market, the FIFA President has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee.

“The extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee will take place in Cape Town on 2 December 2009, starting at 15.00.”

The Henry handball incident left football’s reputation – at least as regards the standards of refereeing – in tatters after it effectively cheated the Republic of Ireland out of a possible place at the World Cup.

France beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 on aggregate over two legs of a qualifying playoff last Wednesday however Henry’s blatant double handball, which led to their equaliser on the night, proved decisive for France.

Since then the use of video technology at football matches, which FIFA is fundamentally against, is an issue which appears to be gaining support throughout the game.

FIFA last week however ruled they would not bow to the Republic’s formal request for a replay of the second leg.

The cash-rich world of European football meanwhile is reportedly harbouring an organised criminal gang that has made millions of euros by betting in Asian markets on the outcomes of matches they helped to decide.

On Thursday, police raided addresses across Europe, smashing what they believe is a 200-strong band that has bribed players, referees and coaches in nine countries.

The German Football Federation (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) announced on Monday the creation of a task force to probe the betting scandal, which has rocked European football.

European football’s governing body UEFA called a crisis meeting at their base in Nyon, Switzerland, for this Wednesday and the DFB and DFL will join forces to probe 32 German games out of some 200 which are under suspicion.

Around 200 games played this season in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Austria are now under suspicion.

None of the 200 suspected matches were in top flight European leagues like England’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s La Liga or Germany’s Bundesliga.

In Italy on Monday police said they had arrested nine people whom they suspect of illegal betting in Italian football.

Amongst those arrested was the president of third division team Potenza, Giuseppe Postiglione and Pro Vastese sports director Luca Evangelista.

They are accused of being involved in organised crime and of sporting fraud relating to a number of bets placed on matches in the second and third divisions from 2007 to 2009.

One match under investigation is the Serie B encounter between Ravenna and Lecce on April 26, 2008, won 3-1 by the away side, on which Postiglione allegedly placed a bet that won him 86,000 euros.

Giovanni Colangelo, the public prosecutor in Potenza, claimed match-fixing had been taking place.

The 2006 ‘Calciopoli’ match-fixing scandal involved high-profile Serie A teams and resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B and stripped of their last two league titles.

AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina and Reggina were also punished for their roles in the match-fixing.

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: 2010 fifa world cup, 2010 fifa world cup south africa, asian markets, body uefa, criminal gang, extraordinary general meeting, extraordinary meeting, fifa president sepp blatter, football matches, formal request, game fifa, german football federation, german football federation dfb, german football league, refereeing, republic of ireland, two legs, world cup france, world football

DFB boss vows to punish betting fraudsters

November 21, 2009

Theo Zwanziger, president of the German Football Federation (DFB), on Saturday vowed to punish anyone in Germany involved with the betting scandal which has rocked European football.

European football is reeling after German prosecutors on Friday revealed 200 games are under suspicion of having been rigged in nine countries.

A 200-strong band operating across Europe is suspected of fixing matches in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Austria, prosecutors here revealed on Friday.

By bribing players, coaches, referees and officials to influence matches, the gang is thought to have earned as much as 10 million euros (15 million dollars) in huge bets with bookmakers in Europe and Asia, primarily in China.

German on-line magazine Der Spiegel claimed on Saturday a referee from one of the country’s southern regional leagues was bribed in a game here last May and Zwanziger says any DFB members involved will be heavily punished.

“We will punish these people – they do not belong amongst us,” Zwanziger said.

“Where there is money, there is also corruption.

“It is important to get the message across that it is not what has happened, but how we handle it now.”

Around 300 police carried out around 50 raids last Thursday in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Austria, arresting 15 people in Germany and two in Switzerland. More than a million euros in cash and property were seized.

Two of those arrested last Thursday included two Croatian brothers living in Berlin, Ante and Milan Sapina, who were at the centre of a match-fixing scandal that rocked Germany in 2004.

Investigators are also looking at 32 matches in Germany, including four in the second division, three in the third, 23 games in regional leagues and two under-19 clashes.

Elsewhere, 29 matches in Turkey from the first division downwards, 14 in Croatia’s first division, 13 in Hungary’s first division, eight in Bosnia-Hercegovina’s top flight and 11 in Austria’s first and second leagues.

In Slovenia, seven games in the first division have raised suspicions, as have 22 league games in the Swiss second division and six friendlies, plus 17 in Belgium’s second division, prosecutors said.

They warned that the list could get longer.

The German scandal saw referee Robert Hoyzer jailed in 2005 after admitting receiving almost 70,000 euros (104,000 dollars) and a plasma television from the Croatian brothers to throw games.

The worst European match-fixing scandal to date was the Calciopoli affair in 2006 involving five Serie A clubs, referees and high-ranked Italian football federation (FIGC) officials.

It resulted in heavy punishments for top-flight clubs including Juventus, AC Milan and Fiorentina, with Juventus stripped of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 league titles and were also demoted.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: 10 million, bets, bookmakers in europe, bosnia hercegovina, clashes, croatian, der spiegel, german football federation, german football federation dfb, german prosecutors, last thursday, living in berlin, match fixing scandal, milan sapina, million dollars, referee, referees, regional leagues, spiegel, top flight

Blatter slams European clubs for under-20 World Cup no-shows

September 24, 2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Thursday slammed Europe’s top clubs for refusing to free their young players to compete in the under-20 World Cup in Egypt.

“It’s not right that the big European clubs don’t free up their young players for the World Cup, when they don’t have any obligations and are not first team. When they aren’t playing they can’t gain experience,” said Blatter.

“It’s better for them to enjoy the second major world competition than to stay at home warming the substitutes bench.”

The under-20 World Cup event, which takes place from September 24 to October 16, will be without many up-and-coming stars as European clubs have been reluctant to let their players leave for nearly a month at the height of the season.

Favourites Germany and Italy arrived in Egypt without most of their stars.

The German clubs in August refused to release their players after a meeting with the German football Federation (DFB), while the Football Association (FA) was similarly understanding with English clubs.

Italy are without the likes of Roma’s Stefano Okaka Chuka, who scored a Serie A goal at just 16, as well as Genoa’s Silvano Raggio Garibaldi and Inter Milan’s Davide Santon.

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (AFP)

Tags: alexandria, alexandria egypt, blatter slams, davide, Egypt, english clubs, Europe, fifa president sepp blatter, football association, gain experience, garibaldi, genoa, german clubs, german football federation dfb, Germany, inter milan, Milan, raggio, Roma, santon, Sepp Blatter, silvano, Silvano Raggio, Stefano Okaka, stefano okaka chuka, top clubs, world competition, world cup event

No World Cup role for ´Klinsi´, insists Bierhoff

September 2, 2009

Ex-coach Jurgen Klinsmann is still a source of advice for the German team, but manager Oliver Bierhoff on Wednesday downplayed speculation ‘Klinsi’ is set for an official role at the next World Cup.

With Germany set to face 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in Leverkusen on Saturday, team manager Bierhoff said Klinsmann still has regular contact with the national team and head coach Joachim Loew.

Germany are top of Group Four and set to guarantee themselves a place at next summer’s World Cup if they beat Azerbaijan in Hanover on September 9 and then group-rivals Russia in Moscow on October 10.

But while Bierhoff says Klinsmann’s opinion is still highly regarded, the team manager brushed off any speculation the former national coach could be involved again in an official capacity.

“We still have very, very close links with Jurgen. We are always pleased to hear his views and use his footballing experience,” revealed Bierhoff.

“Jurgen is not tied to any club at the moment and therefore he can judge things more objectively.

“Just like in previous times, he is still an important contact and someone for us to bounce ideas off.

“(But any speculation) is a dead duck. We will have no official co-operation with Jurgen Klinsmann.

“We don’t think there is a way of merging him with the national team or giving him a coaching role.”

Klinsmann was head coach of the Germany team in 2006 with current trainer Joachim Loew as his assistant and Bierhoff as team manager when the side finished third.

And German Football Federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger also put the brakes on any speculation Klinsmann could return in an official role.

“The opinion of Jurgen Klinsmann was and still is important to us,” said Zwanziger.

“He showed he is able to forge and motivate a successful side and he is still highly appreciated here by the DFB.

“But Joachim Loew is the coach of the national side and he is the boss.

“The coach of the national team does not need an advisor.”

Klinsmann has recently moved his family back from the United States to Munich with his children set to start the new school year this month.

The 45-year-old was sacked as Bayern Munich coach in April after a poor run of results in his first role as a domestic coach after just ten months in charge of the German giants.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: Azerbaijan, Bayern, berlin, brakes, dead duck, german football federation, german football federation dfb, german team, Hanover, head coach, joachim loew, joachim loew germany, jurgen klinsmann, klinsi, LEVERKUSEN, Moscow, Munich, national coach, oliver bierhoff, rivals, russia, september 9, South Africa, speculation, Theo, theo zwanziger, United States, World Cup

Germany´s Jones opts to play for the USA

June 13, 2009

BERLIN (AFP) – With a year to go before the World Cup, Schalke 04 midfielder Jermaine Jones has opted to turn his back on Germany to play for the United States, it was announced on Friday.

The 27-year-old has already informed the German Football Federation (DFB) of his decision and national coach Joachim Loew says he wishes Jones well.

“We have acknowledged Jermaine Jones’ decision and we accept it,” said Germany coach Loew, who led the national team to second place at last June’s Euro 2008 final.

“I wish him plenty of luck in his sporting future.”

Under FIFA’s current regulations, Jones is eligible to play for the United States of America, for whom he qualifies through his father, despite having played for Germany, because he has not been involved in a major tournament.

All of his three appearances for Germany have come in friendly matches against Austria, Belarus and England and he missed out on final selection for the Euro 2008 squad.

Germany are top of the qualification group for next year’s World Cup in South Africa, while the USA are currently second in the North, Central American and Caribbean group.

Tags: Austria, belarus, berlin, Bundesliga, Caribbean, Central American, England, final selection, german football federation, german football federation dfb, Germany, jermaine jones, joachim loew, Jones, Loew, midfielder, MLS, national coach, qualification group, s jones, South Africa, states of america, United States, united states of america, USA, World Cup

Wiese faces probe over Hamburg taunts

May 12, 2009

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) – The German Football Federation (DFB) on Monday opened an inquiry into the behaviour of Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese following his side’s 2-0 win over Hamburg on Sunday.

The DFB’s disciplinary commission launched the procedure after viewing a video of Wiese celebrating with Werder fans after the final whistle.

Perched on the fence separating the pitch from the terraces, the German international brandished a megaphone to join in with the home fans’ chants, shouting “Shit on Hamburg!”

The DFB has asked Wiese to submit a written account of what happened.

Werder and Hamburg are the two biggest clubs in northern Germany and have a strong rivalry.

The teams have met four times over the last three weeks, with Werder eliminating Hamburg from both the German Cup and the UEFA Cup at the semi-final stage.

Werder’s victory on Sunday severely dented Hamburg’s hopes of winning the league and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Werder face Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul on May 20.

Tags: Bremen, Bundesliga, champions league, chants, disciplinary commission, donetsk, FRANKFURT, frankfurt germany, german cup, german football federation, german football federation dfb, Goalkeeper, Hamburg, home fans, Istanbul, megaphone, northern germany, rivalry, taunts, terraces, Tim Wiese, UEFA Cup, Werder, werder bremen, werder fans, whistle

Experience vital as Bayern hunt new coach

May 3, 2009

MUNICH (AFP) – In the hunt to replace sacked Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann, club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insisted on Sunday experience and personality would be key attributes for potential candidates.

“When one looks at the current trend in Europe, it’s notable that many of the successful coaches are personalities with a huge amount of experience and of advancing age,” Rummenigge told Sunday’s edition of Die Welt.

Klinsmann was sacked last Monday as Bayern head coach after just ten months in charge following a string of poor results with Jupp Heynckes appointed as caretaker coach for the rest of the season.

Dutch coaches Louis van Gaal, Frank Rijkaard and Martin Jol have all been linked to the vacant job at the defending Bundesliga champions, as well as German Football Federation (DFB) director of football Matthias Sammer.

Van Gaal, who led AZ Alkmaar to the Dutch title this year, appears to be the favourite as Bayern Munich team manager Uli Hoeness revealed Sunday there is an early exit clause in his contract which expires in 2010.

“The man we seek is an experienced coach with a personality which can allow the team to develope,” said Rummenigge.

But the message from Bayern is clear to whoever gets the job: immediate success is both expected and demanded by the German giants.

“In all of Europe, whether it is Real Madrid or Barca, in the big Italian or English teams, the clubs simply do not have enough time to allow a coach to install new ideas and then wait three or four years for titles,” commented Rummenigge.

“We acted where we felt we needed to and it should not be forgotten that the same team we have now won the Bundesliga by ten points last season, having led the table from day one and also took the German Cup,” added Rummenigge.

With four games left this season, Bayern are second in the Bundesliga table and three points behind leaders Wolfsburg, before Sunday’s matches, with four games left this season.

And Rummenigge admitted he underestimated the resentment towards Klinsmann which still festered amongst Bayern fans after the ex-Germany coach dropped club stalwart Oliver Kahn from the national side in 2006.

On his way to guiding Germany to third place at the last World Cup, Klinsmann opted for ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann over Kahn and Bayern fans had not forgotten when “Klinsi” started as Munich coach in July 2008.

“What we underestimated is the fact there was obviously still a group of supporters who still held a deep resentment on this issue,” added Rummenigge.

“It was hoped all the dissatisfaction would disappear after the World Cup, but unfotunately that was not the case.”

Klinsmann was sacked last Monday as Bayern head coach after just ten months in charge following a string of poor results with Jupp Heynckes appointed as caretaker coach for the rest of the season.

“The man we seek is an experienced coach with a personality which can allow the team to develope,” said Rummenigge.

But the message from Bayern is clear to whoever gets the job: immediate success is both expected and demanded by the German giants.

With four games left this season, Bayern are second in the Bundesliga table and three points behind leaders Wolfsburg, before Sunday’s matches, with four games left this season.

“What we underestimated is the fact there was obviously still a group of supporters who still held a deep resentment on this issue,” added Rummenigge.

“It was hoped all the dissatisfaction would disappear after the World Cup, but unfotunately that was not the case.”

Tags: bayern munich, Bundesliga, caretaker coach, club chairman, die welt, director of football, dutch title, Europe, frank rijkaard, german cup, german football federation, german football federation dfb, jens lehmann, jupp heynckes, jurgen klinsmann, karl heinz, karl heinz rummenigge, Louis, louis van gaal, MADRID, martin jol, matthias sammer, Munich, oliver kahn, real madrid, uli hoeness, vacant job, Van Gaal

Experience and success vital for Bayern

May 3, 2009

MUNICH (AFP) – In the hunt to replace sacked Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann, club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insisted Sunday experience and personality would be key attributes for potential candidates.

Klinsmann was sacked last Monday as Bayern head coach after just ten months in charge following a string of poor results with Jupp Heynckes appointed as caretaker coach for the rest of the season.

“The man we seek is an experienced coach with a personality which can allow the team to develope,” said Rummenigge.

But the message from Bayern is clear to whoever gets the job: immediate success is both expected and demanded by the German giants.

With four games left this season, Bayern are second in the Bundesliga table and three points behind leaders Wolfsburg, before Sunday’s matches, with four games left this season.

“What we underestimated is the fact there was obviously still a group of supporters who still held a deep resentment on this issue,” added Rummenigge.

“It was hoped all the dissatisfaction would disappear after the World Cup, but unfotunately that was not the case.”