MONACO (AP) — European soccer officials are calling on lawmakers to help protect the game by adopting legislation against match-fixing and corrupt betting.
The strategy council for UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, is calling for a zero-tolerance approach to players, referees and officials involved in match-fixing.
UEFA is helping anti-corruption police in Bochum, Germany, investigate Europe’s biggest-ever soccer scandal, which has put more than 270 matches in domestic leagues and international competitions under suspicion.
Croatian-led organized crime syndicates are believed to have made $9.6 million betting on matches after paying bribes to manipulate results.
UEFA has banned two referees for life and suspended two players from Hungarian champion Debrecen.
