Fixing scandal reaches Bundesliga

[skippy]

Sunday March 26, 2006 12:38PM

BERLIN (AP) -- Germany's match-fixing scandal reached the Bundesliga for the first time this weekend, 10 weeks before the country hosts the World Cup.

Munich investigators said Sunday they searched betting agencies for evidence of game rigging. A day earlier in Cologne, a tax fraud case involving Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen was widened to include possible fixed matches.

"We have information with substance, now we have to check it out," Cologne chief district attorney Guenther Feld said. "It would be senseless to rule out the possibility of manipulation."

Neither district attorney's office released details, but widespread media reports in Germany say both investigations involve Bundesliga matches.

The Cologne investigation grew out a fraud case involving Leverkusen's former manager, Reiner Calmund. Under Calmund, Leverkusen paid player agent Volker Graul $689,000 for option deals on young east European players. The deals were never completed, leading to the fraud charges.
Both the Suddeutsche Zeitung daily and Der Spiegel weekly reported that investigators suspect the money was given to Graul to rig matches as Leverkusen fought demotion in the 2002-2003 season.

Calmund denied the accusations in a statement released by his lawyers.

In the Munich investigation, police engaged in several searches including the betting agencies. Focus weekly reported the searches were triggered by large sums -- reaching $1.2 million -- being bet on games of Bundesliga club FC Nuremberg.

[The Judge]

fascinating

[Romanowski]

Originally Posted by The Judge

fascinating

agreed, this is cool Skipper

[rmaciasl]

ii post it on the soccer forum but in spanish thanks God someone find it in elighs