Match-fixing ref eats humble pie
The referee at the centre of the match-fixing scandal in Germany has appeared on a television talk show to apologise for his actions.
An almost unprecedented security operation was launched to accompany Robert Hoyzer to the ZDF studios in Hamburg, where he appeared on the Johannes B. Kerner show on Tuesday night.
Threats had been made from fans throughout Germany to block his appearance on television and police were on guard as Hoyzer returned to the city whose club, Hamburg SV, was the first to suffer from his manipulation.
“I am ashamed about the whole episode, it’s embarrassing and very uncomfortable,” he said after being given a frosty reception from the 120 people in the audience.
“I am really sorry for what I have done and I would like to apologise for that.”
Hoyzer, who was accompanied onto the set by his solicitor Thomas Hermes, admitted the “lure of money” had led him to throw away his career by fixing matches under his control.
He admitted how the first attempt to fix a game in a German Regional League fixture failed.
Hoyzer was approached by somebody willing to pay €8,000 for the correct half-time and full-time score between Paderborn and Chemnitz was scuppered after his linesman overruled an incorrect penalty decision before half-time.
“They criticised me for not taking the initiative,” he said of a further meeting with the so-called ‘bet mafia’, who had lured Hoyzer into the world of match-fixing by showing him a pay-out slip for €47,000.
The 25-year-old was then offered a smaller fee of €3,000 to fix the game between Wuppertal and Werder Bremen amateurs, which he did, thus paving the way for his new career as match-fixer.
Hoyzer admitted to claims he had received €67,000 and a plasma television during the almost year-long campaign of match-fixing, although he claimed he was considering bringing an end to the saga after seeing his refereeing standards slip.
He said: “It may sound stupid now but a few weeks ago I was ready to leave this all because I noticed how my performance had deteriorated crazily.”
That was before the German Football Association (DFB) started to take seriously the fears of betting company Oddset that some games may have been fixed.
But after making a full and thorough confession to the DFB and Berlin state prosecutors, Hoyzer is now ready to face the music and pay the price for his actions, whatever it may be.
“I recognise my mistakes and am prepared for the consequences. I have no idea if jail is a possibility but I am ready for it,” he mourned.
Hoyzer’s actions have prompted an outpouring of anger from football fans throughout the nation and made the life of all current referees harder than it ever was before.
A “very sad” Hoyzer, comprehends the contempt held against him and added: “People are disappointed, angry and annoyed and I can understand that completely.”
