Source: Daily_Mail
40 Euro ties hit by bets scam as UEFA probes Champions League match-fixing
A staggering 40 cases of suspected match-fixing in Champions League, UEFA Cup and revamped Europa League are being investigated, European football bosses revealed last night.
The head of UEFA's disciplinary services, Peter Limacher, said his department was probing early qualifying matches from the past four years, involving teams 'mainly from eastern Europe'.
UEFA opened the investigation after being alerted to suspicious betting and Limacher said his focus was on clubs with little chance of progressing in both European competitions and who, instead, were out to make a financial gain.
'Right now it's mainly eastern Europe clubs being investigated,' Limacher said. 'They know they are not going to be involved later in the tournament so they decide, 'Let's make a profit'.
'In the cases we have seen it's really the deliberate planned fix of the games, the whole games. First, the result at half-time, then after 90 minutes.
'It might take some time (to convict) but, in cases where we can work together with the police, that might be possible.'
One club believed to be under investigation is Rabotnicki of Macedonia, who lost 2-1 on aggregate to Bolton in the UEFA Cup first round in 2007.
UEFA president Michel Platini has described match-fixing and illegal betting as the greatest problems facing European football.
