Beckenbauer calls for review of betting industry

Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer feels the betting industry needs to be radically reformed if fraudulent activity is to be avoided in future.

Germany is in the midst of another betting scandal, less than four years after disgraced former referee Robert Hoyzer was convicted of match-fixing.

Thirty-two games from the German second division and below are under investigation along with a total of around 200 matches Europe-wide which are under suspicion of being manipulated in the most widespread case of match-fixing in football.

Beckenbauer admits he was shocked to discover the extent of the scandal, but even more surprised to discover what kind of bets can actually be placed nowadays.

"I thought it was always win, lose or draw," he told Sky television. "I didn't realise how many kind of bets you can place.

"You can even bet on who gets the first grey hair, who gets the first penalty or the first yellow card."

This, according to the Kaiser, makes the game easier to manipulate.

"I would get rid of such things and not allow them anymore," he added.

Three players from German third division side Osnabruck have already been named as part of the investigation while many others, possibly including a referee, have so far remained anonymous.

UEFA have scheduled a meeting for today where representatives of the German Football Association and German Football League will meet to discuss the investigation.

It also emerged yesterday that Croatian police were probing allegations on fixed football matches.

The national Bureau for the Fight Against Organised Crime and Corruption (USKOK) asked the police to check information regarding allegations on fixed football matches.

Croatian media reported that 14 matches in the first division were suspected of being fixed.