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Referee suspended in German soccer scandal The referee who took bribes to fix games was suspended by the German Soccer Federation on Thursday in the country's worst corruption scandal in the sport in more than 30 years.
The federation said Robert Hoyzer's suspension was for "unsportsmanlike conduct." He has admitted rigging four games in return for $85,000 from a gambling syndicate led by three Croatian brothers, who have been arrested. He tried to manipulate two other games without success, and in one game his help wasn't needed.
The growing scandal has overshadowed Germany's preparations to host next year's World Cup.
Hoyzer has implicated others, and Berlin prosecutors are investigating 25 people, including three other referees and 14 players, on suspicion of fixing at least 10 games, mostly in the lower divisions.
Hoyzer was questioned this week by a soccer federation lawyer, and faces another formal hearing that could result in a lifetime ban. If charged and convicted of fraud, Hoyzer could spend up to 10 years in jail.
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