25 officials named as suspects in Czech Republic match-fixing probe

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:38 a.m. ET

foxsports

PRAGUE --

Czech Football Association officials, referees, and club administrators - 25 people in all - are police suspects in a 2013 bribery case that hit Czech lower-tier leagues.

In a statement on Wednesday noting their investigation was complete, police say five people are suspected of paying bribes, and 20 others allegedly accepted bribes to fix matches.

Investigators say they believe the bribes of unspecified sums were paid in cash to fix at least 10 matches from May to November 2013.

The suspects and the clubs involved have not been identified.

If tried and convicted of bribery, the officials face up to two years in jail, while those suspected of accepting bribes could spend up to four years behind bars.