UEFA calls for tougher laws on soccer corruption

UEFA calls for tougher laws on soccer corruption

Published Aug. 27, 2010 6:31 p.m. ET

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.

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UEFA has banned two referees for life and suspended two players from Hungarian champion Debrecen.

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