DODGEY DEALING

Death threats and harrassment are amongst some intimidation tactics used against British journalists reporting on the Winter Olympics in Beijing recently. Our sports' writers have brought to the World's attention the possibility of "doping", involved in at least one star figure skater, a young lady who hails from Russia. Kamila Valieva, 15 years old and a star skater, became the first female to "land" successfully the quadruple jump, guiding her Russian team to Gold. She was named after this by the International Testing Agency, to have tested positive for the banned trimelazidine. The Russian newspapers accused the British press of being "horrible human beings". Hey ho! It won't be the first time there has been dodgey dealing......

In August 21st 2004, the German club, SC Paderborn from the Regionlliga "league" played the Bundesliga "Giants" SV Hamburg in the German FA Cup (DFB-Pokal). As expected SV went ahead 2-0 after half an hour but by half time the under dogs had levelled the score 2-2. 

One of the Hamburg players, Mpzena had been sent off  5 minutes after scoring his goal, for disputing a questionable Paderborn penalty, which was converted. Paderborn scored again on the hour, before Spock (yes, Spock) scored another "soft" penalty 8 minutes from time.

Referee, Robert Hoyser,

blew for full time with the score 4-2 to Paderborn. The Hamburg manager Klaus Toppmoller, was sacked a month later. The press soon announced that the result was no accident, and that Robert Hoyzer had fixed the match. Toppmoller was enraged. claiming that this had cost him his job, although Hamburg had lost their first two games in the league. After some investigation, Hozer admitted that he had fixed several games that season, being rewarded by cash from three Croatian brothers who ran a gambling ring from a bar in Berlin, called Cafe King. The reward at the time of sicovery was £14,000 and a very nice plasma TV.

Hoyzer was given a lifetime refereeing ban and arrested  and jailed for two years even after the DFB had recognised Hoyzer as a "huge talent with splendid prospects". The dreadful news had been announced to the World press on the eve of the Germany World Cup in 2006. Oops. 

Five other defendants were confirmed in December 2006, after they had lost their final appeals in court.

Referee Dominik Marks was banned for life and received a 1-year-6-month sentence for his involvement.

The three Croatian brothers orchestrating the scheme received sentences ranging from 2-year-11-month in prison to 1 year – suspended.

Referee Felix Zwyer was banned for 6 months for his involvement including accepting a €300 bribe from Hoyzer.

Referee Torsten Koop received a three-month ban for not promptly reporting an approach from Hoyzer.

Matches involving officials and players accused or convicted for their involvement in the scheme were subjected to review by the league.

Hamburger SV received compensation worth up to €2 million for its forced early exit from the DFB Cup and compensation for certain other teams affected was arranged.

After review, replays had been ordered for a number of lower division games, while other results stood.

A number of changes had been put in place or proposed to ensure closer oversight of referees and other game officials.

Once the criminal issues involved were resolved, it was expected that a number of civil suits would arise as some clubs and individuals sought compensation for harm suffered as a result of the scandal.

What me???