Nov 25, 2009, 14:48 GMT
Nyon, Switzerland - Five clubs from Albania, Latvia, Slovenia and Hungary were on Wednesday named by the ruling body UEFA as suspects in a major match-fixing scheme.
UEFA said KF Tirana (Albania) KS Vilaznia (both Albania), FC Dinaburg (Latvia), NK IB Llubljana (Slovenia) and Budapest club Honved (Hungary) are under investigation in connection with one Champions League and six Europa League qualifying games in July and August.
The UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino also said that UEFA was probing the possible involvement of three referees and another person connected to UEFA.
'UEFA will file criminal complaints, together with the relevant national associations, as soon as possible against clubs, officials and/or players in those countries concerned,' said Infantino.
The announcement came after a meeting with football officials from nine countries: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey.
Matches in those nine domestic leagues were mentioned last week by prosecutors in Bochum, Germany, who are leading the probe into about 200 possibly rigged games.
Seventeen arrests have been carried out, 15 alone in Germany, including a Croatian man who was convicted in a German 2005 fixing affair around referee Robert Hoyzer.
Prosecutors say that Germany-based betting rings are suspected of bribing players, coaches, referees and other officials to fix matches. They are said to have won more than 10 million euros through these schemes.
'All are interested in fully clearing up of the affair. But we must give the authorities the time they need. The full truth must come out, and the sanctions will be harsh,' said German football federation general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach.
This was also made clear in a declaration after the Wednesday meeting.
'UEFA and the nine associations are fully committed to eradicating these malpractices that are threatening the game. No distinction will be made as to whether this malpractice originates from a player, an official or any other individual,' the statement said.
The parties invited all individuals to share their knowledge about match fixing with them and stressed the importance of the state authorities.
'UEFA and the national associations are facing a case of organised crime which exceeds the investigative power of sports jurisdiction. They are grateful to the state authorities for their firm action, also in the interest of sport,' the declaration said.
On the German side of the scheme, fourth division club Verl has suspended two players and said on Wednesday that a third (former) player is under investigation over two possibly rigged games last season.
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