German clubs deny match-fixing claims

Allegations of match-fixing in Germany’s Bundesliga were yesterday denied by both clubs involved after claims implicated a top-flight game between Energie Cottbus and VfL Bochum.

Both teams, who now ply their trade in Germany’s second division, reacted with surprise to claims from Italy suggesting their Bundesliga match on February 20 2009 may have been fixed.

In that match Bochum beat Cottbus 3-2 with a controversial 79th-minute penalty.

Cottbus were relegated at the end of the season, while Bochum stayed in the top flight by two points.

The German Football Federation (DFB) have also issued a statement saying they have no concrete evidence of match-fixing from the game, despite investigati ons.

Both Cottbus and Bochum have said they are shocked after Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport published claims from an anonymous former player at one of the clubs who said he had known the match result from the start.