Authorities in Germany are investigating suspicions of match-fixing in 17 football matches.
Among the matches under scrutiny are fixtures from Hamburg's Oberliga. This investigation has sparked concerns about the integrity of the sport in Germany, nearly two decades after the country's last major betting scandal.
In 2005, referee Robert Hoyzer was found guilty of rigging multiple matches, including a DFB Cup game between HSV and SC Paderborn in 2004, which ended 4-2 in Paderborn's favour.
The current investigation is focusing on potential irregularities in both gameplay and betting patterns, suggesting the possibility of external interference to influence the outcomes of these matches.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the specific nature of the manipulation or identified the individuals involved. The investigation has been prompted by growing concerns over the integrity of sports betting markets and potential vulnerabilities in lower-league football.
These suspicions in Germany come amid a broader global increase in concerns about match-fixing. In August 2024, Starlizard Integrity Services released a report that identified 79 suspicious football matches worldwide in the first half of the year, with a significant rise in such cases in the CONMEBOL region.
In total, 23 countries reported at least one match with integrity alerts during that period. The issue of match-fixing continues to pose challenges for regulators and football associations around the world, with the manipulation of games not confined to any specific region or level of competition.
In other recent cases, three players from Australia’s A-League were charged in May 2024 with alleged betting-related corruption involving the manipulation of yellow card incidents.
Investigations into match-fixing also intensified in Asia, where Sportradar's 2023 integrity report found a 25% increase in suspicious betting activity compared to the previous year, with football being the most affected sport.
