Bundesliga Scandal (2005)

Bundesliga Scandal (2005)

In early 2005, German football was overshadowed by the discovery of a €2 million match fixing scandal centered on second division referee Robert Hoyzer, who confessed to fixing and betting on matches in the 2nd Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal (German Cup), and the third division Regionalliga. The scandal has been described as the largest controversy in German football since the Bundesliga scandal of the early 1970s, as numerous players, coaches and officials have been accused of involvement with an organised crime group in the scheme, which came on the eve of Germany playing host to the 2006 World Cup.

Although it does not appear that any 1st Bundesliga games were involved, the matches in question do include a DFB Cup first-round contest between regional side Paderborn and Bundesliga heavyweights Hamburg played on August 21, 2004. Hamburg lost 2–4 as two highly questionable penalties were awarded to Paderborn and Hamburg footballer Émile Mpenza was sent off for protesting as the club was eliminated from the lucrative competition.