German Federation bans German soccer referee for life for fixing games!

[Phil C]

A sad day for soccer indeed. :(

[Manck]

Here's a link to the story (http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=273293&CPID=22&CLID=&lid=9&title=Hoyzer+handed+life+ban&channel=Germany)
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Disgraced German referee Robert Hoyzer has received a life-time ban for his part in the betting scandal that has rocked German football.

Hoyzer has been at the centre of a gambling storm that has seen the German Football Association investigate three referees and 14 players for alleged match fixing.

The former official had admitted to fixing and attempting to fix a string of games after receiving a total of €67,000 in bribes from a betting gang.

Whilst Hoyzer was banned indefinitely from officiating he escaped a €50,000 fine after prosecutors decided that a ban would be sufficient punishment, and he could still face a civil claim for damages.

The controversy has extended to several games, most notably the German Cup tie officiated by Hoyzer that saw Bundesliga side Hamburg dumped out by SC Paderborn in controversial circumstances.

The DFB have since awarded Hamburg at least €2 million for their premature exit from the cup, and attacked Hoyzer for damaging the image of the domestic game.

"Hoyzer has caused incalculable damage to German football, especially to referees," said the DFB's Rainer Koch.

In a bid to counter the threat from such betting irregularities the DFB have announced their intention to set up their own betting operation, and have also banned players, coaches, officials and referees from betting on matches.