Waterink first player banned in betting scandal

Thijs Waterink of regional league side Paderborn SC has become the first player to be banned in connection with Germany's match-fixing scandal with a playing suspension until July 31.

The German Football Association (DFB) said yesterday the Dutch player had been found guilty of "unsporting behaviour and passive corruption".

Waterink, the Paderborn captain, admitted accepting €10,000 ($12,920) from an unidentified man before the side's Cup match against Hamburg SV earlier this season.

The match, won 4-2 by Paderborn, was later found to have been rigged by Robert Hoyzer, the Berlin-based referee who has admitted taking €67,000 ($86,560) to fix matches for a Croatian betting ring.

Waterink, who was not accused of actively helping to fix the match, was told he could keep the money if his team won the match.

He did not tell his team-mates about the gift before the match. After the victory, he gave €500 to each man.

The ban is significantly less severe than the eight-month suspension that was recommended by the DFB's disciplinary committee.

Hoyzer, the referee at the centre of German football's worst corruption case in over 30 years, is co-operating with prosecutors after admitting taking bribes.

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