Hoyzer arrested as corruption scandal intensifies
Hamburg win compensation for fixed Cup game
German referee Robert Hoyzer was arrested and threatened with a long jail sentence yesterday with prosecutors saying they had fresh evidence he had been involved in match-fixing prior to 2004.
"New evidence suggests that Robert Hoyzer was involved in crimes of a similar type with persons unknown prior to those in 2004 that he has already admitted to," Berlin prosecutor Michael Grunwald said in a statement.
Against the background of existing admissions and the new evidence, "Hoyzer must count on a hefty jail sentence", the prosecutor's office said. "For that reason, there is a concrete risk of his absconding," it added.
The statement said an order for Hoyzer's arrest had been issued on Thursday and that police had arrested him yesterday.
The scandal is already the biggest in Germany for over 30 years and has tarnished the country's image as it prepares to host the 2006 World Cup. The situation could get worse if earlier matches are found to have been fixed.
Meanwhile, Hamburg SV will receive €2 million ($2.57 million) and be allowed to host an international friendly as compensation for a Cup defeat last year which was later found to have been fixed, the German Football Association (DFB) said yesterday.
After five-hours of talks with the DFB, Hamburg agreed to withdraw their appeal to be reinstated in the Cup after losing to Paderborn last year in a match refereed by Hoyzer.
Hamburg will be allowed to host a German national friendly with either China or Japan in October, and will receive a direct sum of €500,000 as well as a guarantee by the DFB of profits of at least €1.5m from the friendly.