Highway Penguin
02-09-2005, 12:32 AM
German Goalkeeper.
German goalkeeper said he was threatened if he went public about attempts to bribe him into throwing a match.
Georg Koch of second-division Duisburg said on Tuesday he received two calls from an unknown man last Thursday warning that "something would happen" if he went public.
Prosecutors are investigating 25 people, including 14 players and four referees, on suspicion of receiving bribes to rig at least 10 matches to help Croatian gamblers collect huge winnings. Three Croatian brothers are in custody.
Despite the threats, Koch said "you become careful, but I don't want to change my life."
Koch said he was offered €20,000 (US$25,500) to let in two goals in last season's final round second-division game between Energie Cottbus and Jahn Regensburg.
"The man said he had a friend who would bet a lot on Jahn Regensburg winning by the two goals it needed to stay (in the second division)," said Koch, who was then at Cottbus. "I immediately turned it down and hung up."
Koch did not play in the game because of injury, and Cottbus won 3-0, while Regensburg was relegated.
The caller identified himself as "Steffen Karl," the name of a player-coach of a third-division team, but Koch said he didn't know if that was the true identity of the caller.
"I don't know this voice and I don't know who called," Koch said.
Koch said he told the German Soccer Federation (DFB) about the bribery attempt 10 days ago, once he became aware of the spreading scandal.
The goalkeeper, who once played for top-division Kaiserslautern, will be invited to testify before DFB officials, DFB spokesman Harald Stenger said.
The DFB will also give a hearing this week to Robert Hoyzer, the referee who triggered the scandal by admitting to fixing games in return for money.
Any comments on the whole ordeal.
German goalkeeper said he was threatened if he went public about attempts to bribe him into throwing a match.
Georg Koch of second-division Duisburg said on Tuesday he received two calls from an unknown man last Thursday warning that "something would happen" if he went public.
Prosecutors are investigating 25 people, including 14 players and four referees, on suspicion of receiving bribes to rig at least 10 matches to help Croatian gamblers collect huge winnings. Three Croatian brothers are in custody.
Despite the threats, Koch said "you become careful, but I don't want to change my life."
Koch said he was offered €20,000 (US$25,500) to let in two goals in last season's final round second-division game between Energie Cottbus and Jahn Regensburg.
"The man said he had a friend who would bet a lot on Jahn Regensburg winning by the two goals it needed to stay (in the second division)," said Koch, who was then at Cottbus. "I immediately turned it down and hung up."
Koch did not play in the game because of injury, and Cottbus won 3-0, while Regensburg was relegated.
The caller identified himself as "Steffen Karl," the name of a player-coach of a third-division team, but Koch said he didn't know if that was the true identity of the caller.
"I don't know this voice and I don't know who called," Koch said.
Koch said he told the German Soccer Federation (DFB) about the bribery attempt 10 days ago, once he became aware of the spreading scandal.
The goalkeeper, who once played for top-division Kaiserslautern, will be invited to testify before DFB officials, DFB spokesman Harald Stenger said.
The DFB will also give a hearing this week to Robert Hoyzer, the referee who triggered the scandal by admitting to fixing games in return for money.
Any comments on the whole ordeal.