European police swoop on football cheaters

European media are reporting on statements from German prosecutors this week that suggest widespread police actions and an unspecified number of arrests across Europe by various cooperating police forces investigating football match-fixing.
Over a hundred individuals are reported to have been interviewed in the match-fixing probe, which apparently involves major European football leagues.
The German prosecutors have not yet disclosed what other countries were involved in the raids.
It is public knowledge that German authorities have been working closely with UEFA during investigations into corruption and match-fixing in the popular sport. The latest information is that a criminal ring is suspected of bribing players, referees and officials to fix matches which would either affect the final score or create a situation in the game that would not normally take place. The ring would then place huge sums on money on the outcome they had generated through their criminal efforts.
Some German media reports claim that the top Turkish football league is just one of the targets on which international police investigators are focusing.
UEFA announced in September that the organisation is investigating 40 matches over the last 4 years in the Champions League and UEFA Cup – mainly involving Eastern European teams.

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