Soccer: Refs suspect as Germany widens match-fixing probe

BERLIN - The German Football Association has set up a special commission to investigate possible match-fixing, amid growing signs that the country's worst sporting scandal for 30 years may go deeper than first thought.

Regional side SC Paderborn have admitted that their captain accepted 10,000 ($18,380) before a German Cup game on the understanding that he could keep the money if his team won.

"I think this 10,000 could be just the tip of the iceberg," club president Wilfried Finke said.

The match on August 21 was refereed by Robert Hoyzer, who admitted last week he had fixed matches.

There have been reports of other players accepting payments, and the German daily newspaper Bild has named three other referees and nine players whom it said Hoyzer had implicated in the affair

The association said appeals had been lodged against nine matches.

- REUTERS