UEFA statement on match fixing investigation

Berlin, Nov 26 (Indianfootball.com-IBNS): Following a meeting at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, with the nine national football associations named last week by German authorities as having domestic league matches under investigation, and based on the information that a number of European fixtures were also being investigated, UEFA General Secretary, Gianni Infantino, issued the following statement:

“From the original list of around 40 fixtures in Europe that were considered suspicious in terms of results, UEFA is today further investigating seven European club competition fixtures under its jurisdiction in more detail. The five clubs involved are KF Tirana (ALB), FC Dinaburg (LVA), KS Vllaznia (ALB), NK IB Ljubljana (SVN) and Budapest Honvéd FC (HUN).

The matches concerned are:

UCL 2nd Qualifying round 21.07.2009 Stabæk IF - KF Tirana

UEL 2nd Qualifying round 16.07.2009 Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC - FC Dinaburg

UEL 2nd Qualifying round 23.07.2009 FC Dinaburg - Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC

UEL 2nd Qualifying round 23.07.2009 KS Vllaznia - SK Rapid Wien

UEL 2nd Qualifying round 16.07.2009 SK Rapid Wien - KS Vllaznia

UEL 3rd Qualifying round 06.08.2009 NK IB Ljubljana - FC Metalurh Donetsk

UEL 3rd Qualifying round 30.07.2009 Fenerbahçe SK - Budapest Honvéd FC

“Irrespective of the above matches, UEFA is today also opening its own investigation into the possible involvement of three referees and one other individual connected to UEFA, in the match fixing. Contrary to media reports there is no suspicion or investigation into any UEFA administration staff. It is clear that we can make no further comment or speculation into the possible names of any individuals that may be involved until the investigation has been completed.

“UEFA wishes to stress that it has been cooperating fully with the German police and authorities on the case and indeed, following a request from the German police for information on a number of matches, UEFA was able to assist thanks to its Betting Fraud Detection System that has been monitoring all UEFA competitions and European national league first- and second-division matches for irregular betting patterns since July 2009.

“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.

“We have full trust in our national associations to deal with the cases related to their national competitions and will continue to provide them with our full cooperation and assistance.”

Declaration following the ad hoc meeting between UEFA and the nine Football Associations of Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey

Following a three hour meeting at the UEFA headquarters regarding the current match-fixing and betting scandal with the objective of an exchange of information, UEFA and the nine associations that were mentioned in the Bochum case issued the following statement:

UEFA and the national associations are facing a case of organized 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.

UEFA and the national associations will contact the competent authorities in each country to obtain access to the relevant information involving clubs and individuals within their jurisdiction.

On behalf of the nine football associations present, UEFA will officially request full access to the entire case file from the public prosecution office in Bochum. According to the competent authorities, this procedure may take several weeks.

Until such a file is available, anything published in the press regarding the matchfixing case in Bochum is pure speculation and not conclusive. No comments on individuals or clubs based on this speculation can be made at the current stage of proceedings.

UEFA and the nine associations invite any player or official willing to report incidents that may be related with any kind of corruption, fraud or match-fixing to the relevant national football authority or UEFA.

UEFA and the national associations will not refrain from taking severe action within their responsibility and UEFA will provide assistance and coordinate matters in all procedures whenever necessary.

UEFA and the nine associations are fully committed to eradicate 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.

--IBNS