Spain opens match-fixing investigation

After a huge match-fixing scam involving European football was uncovered last month, Spanish authorities are to investigate players suspected of betting on match results, said a statement on the website of the country's football federation (RFEF).

REUTERS - Spanish authorities will open an investigation into players suspected of betting on the outcome of matches, the country's football federation (RFEF) said on their website on Tuesday.

Last month German police uncovered what European football's governing body UEFA described as the biggest match-fixing scandal on the continent.

"UEFA, through an international investigation into European football, alerted the RFEF of the existence of infractions committed by sportsmen who had betted on the outcome of matches they were playing in, and others," the RFEF said.

Initial enquiries have led to the federation alerting the state prosecutor as some of the activities could be classed as criminal offences.

Two weeks ago, German police said they had dismantled a gang with more than 200 suspected members operating in nine European leagues.

Police in Germany, Britain, Austria and Switzerland staged simultaneous raids arresting 15 people in Germany and two in Switzerland.

The gang is suspected of having paid off referees, players and officials to win at least 10 million euros ($14.97 million), with officials speculating this to be the tip of the iceberg only.

Date created : 2009-12-02