Huge match-fixing drama in Football revealed!

Cricket and Formula 1 aren't the only games in the world infected by the disease that is match fixing, in a shocking reveal today it was reported that 200 football matches in nine European countries including at least three Champions League games were fixed.

A total of several million euros shifted hands when a large number of matches were fixed in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Austria. Some of these shady matches were 12 games from the 2009 season from the Europa League, (UEFA Cup), one qualifying game for the under-21 European championship and four from the German second division. Some have termed the scandal as the worst ever match-fixing scandal in European football.

European football governing body stated that it had been monitoring the suspicious betting patterns during the matches. However no details have been given yet about the allegedly fixed matches. "UEFA will be demanding the harshest of sanctions before the competent courts for any individuals, clubs or officials who are implicated in this malpractice, be it under state or sports jurisdiction," UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

On Thursday 15 people were arrested in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Austria as the police conducted about 50 raids across the countries. The cops also nabbed one million euros in cash and property. As per the reports, a large, tentacled network of 200 people influence matches and place bets on them with bookmakers in Europe and Asia. And according to the police, players, coaches, referees and officials were offered humongous bribe money.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, a German daily reported today that a friendly between German side SSV Ulm against Fenerbahce Istanbul that was held in July was fixed. Eyebrows were raised as the Turkish side had won 5-0. Investigations suggest that certain currently unidentified SSV Ulm players received more than 10,000 euros ($ 14,900) each to lose the game. Also, the betting ring was in league with Asian bookmakers where punters could gamble as much as 30,000 euros.