Ethics Newsline®

BERLIN
The German Football Association (DFB) last week imposed a lifetime ban on 25-year-old referee Robert Hoyzer, who helped rig a series of matches influencing the outcome of the German Cup.

Hoyzer admitted taking $87,000 from a Croation gambling ring in exchange for fixing four matches, planning to fix three others, and trying to recruit others to join the conspiracy, reported the Reuters news agency.

Hoyzer’s actions during the first round of the German Cup cost Hamburg SV a chance to advance. The DFB awarded the team $2.6 million in compensation after the fraud was revealed.

The DFB last week banned all betting on games by players, coaches, officials and referees, and announced plans to set up its own betting operation for the sport’s 2006-2007 season, reported Reuters.

In addition to the lifetime ban, the DFB had planned to fine Hoyzer more than $64,000, but dropped that penalty in light of his cooperation with investigators. Hoyzer still could face civil charges of fraud, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Another referee, Torsten Koop, has been serving a three-month suspension for taking a month to tell the federation that Hoyzer had tried to recruit him in the conspiracy.

Berlin prosecutors are investigating 25 other people, including four referees, 14 players, and three Croatian brothers, in connection with the match fixing scandal — soccer’s biggest such scandal in 30 years, noted Reuters.