SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Police authorities across several German states have confirmed that they have opened an investigation into 17 football matches on suspicion of match-fixing.
First reported in the news outlet Hamburg Morning Post (MOPO), the games suspected to have had a predetermined outcome were part of the 3. Liga, Regionalliga and the Oberliga competitions – all organised by the DFB, Germany’s Football Union.
The alleged manipulation of results goes all the way back to November 2022, with the last game known to have been compromised supposedly taking place just a few weeks ago.
Coincidentally, in a separate case another Hamburg-based media outlet – the Hamburger Abendblatt – published an article last Friday containing a video of a man wearing a pair of earphones, allegedly supplying a betting platform with illegal live information about an Oberliga Hamburg game.
In the video, the man is approached by the manager of the sports complex who asks on behalf of which company is the perpetrator there.
After the man answers “Real Time Sportscast”, he is told by the manager that he should stop what he is doing or otherwise he will get his pass revoked, to which the man complies.
Going back to the main investigation, police in the states of Hessen and Saarland have already confirmed that they are collaborating with the Public Prosecutor’s Office and are looking into “suspicious refereeing and behaviour from goalkeepers and defenders”.
It appears that the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) is also coordinating with its fellow authorities. Under German law, match-fixing of a game under a professional or a semi-professional league – such as the 3. Liga and the Regionalliga respectively – is seen as an offence under Section 265d of the Criminal Code.
Players and referees found guilty under this legislation are facing up to three years of imprisonment or a financial penalty, depending on the severity of the breach.
Additionally, manipulation of amateur games – such as those in the Oberliga – would also be investigated by the BKA as ‘sports betting fraud’ under Section 265c of the Criminal Code. Offenders will be met with similar punishment to the previous section.
It would be of no surprise if the prosecution also produces additional charges under Germany’s internet laws, as perpetrators exchanged insider information and traded the expected game results on the so-called “dark web”, according to MOPO.
The involved parties would then go on and place the exact outcome as a bet with a licensed online betting provider, hence profiting in return.
Placing a bet on an amateur game is currently forbidden in Germany, but that ban does not apply to foreign betting operators.
The DFB commented on the situation for the German sports information agency SID, saying: “We do not yet have any reliable findings on this. However, we are already in contact with the responsible authorities. Further explanations are not possible for the DFB with regard to the investigations that have been initiated.”
