Uefa name clubs over match-fixing

Soccer:Uefa have confirmed they are continuing investigations into seven European fixtures suspected in a massive match-fixing operation.

The case was first brought to light by the authorities in Germany, but Uefa has now opened its own investigation.

Following meetings today with nine national football associations, Europe's governing body has named five clubs as being those under scrutiny.

The clubs are KF Tirana and KS Vllaznia of Albania, FC Dinaburg of Latvia, NK IB Ljubljana of Slovenia, and Budapest Honved of Hungary.

Seven matches, one a Champions League qualifier and the other six Europa League qualifiers, all played between July 16th and August 6th, are under investigation.

In a lengthy statement, Uefa added it was also looking into the roles of three referees and one other official in the case.

The probe by the German authorities is looking into "around 200" matches in total, the majority of them in domestic leagues.

Uefa have focused solely on those continental fixtures under its jurisdiction, and began with a list of 40 before cutting it down to those seven revealed today.

The games Uefa are looking at are the Champions League second round qualifier between Stabaek IF and Tirana; both legs of the the Europa League second round qualifiers between Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC and FC Dinaburg and KS Vllaznia and Rapid Vienna; and both legs of the Europa League third round qualifier between NK IB Ljubljana and Metallurg Donetsk.

"Uefa wishes to stress that it has been co-operating fully with the German police and authorities on the case and indeed, following a request from the German police for information on a number of matches, Uefa was able to assist thanks to its Betting Fraud Detection System that has been monitoring all Uefa competitions and European national league first- and second-division matches for irregular betting patterns since July 2009,” the statement read.

"Uefa will file criminal complaints, together with the relevant national associations, as soon as possible against clubs, officials and/or players in those countries concerned."

Uefa have met with the national associations of Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey to discuss all the matches under investigation - both domestic and continental.

"Uefa and the national associations are facing a case of organised crime which exceeds the investigative power of sports jurisdiction," Uefa's statement added. "They are grateful to the state authorities for their firm action, also in the interest of sport.

"Uefa and the national associations will contact the competent authorities in each country to obtain access to the relevant information involving clubs and individuals within their jurisdiction."

The case came to light last Friday.

German authorities confirmed 32 matches in Germany were under suspicion, including four in the second division, with the remainder in lower leagues.

Several arrests have already been made across Europe after the investigation began at the start of the year.

The general secretary of the German Football Association (DFB), Wolfgang Niersbach, called for the whole truth behind the allegations to be laid bare.

"Everyone is interested in a quick and complete solution," he said in a statement released by the DFB. "Despite that we should not allow ourselves to get frantic, but rather we have to give the authorities the necessary time.

"And however bitter the truth may be, it must be completely on the table and the sanctions will be tough."

-PA