“Large sums of money”: Cottbus reports attempted game manipulation


“High sums of money”
Cottbus reports attempted match manipulation

The former Bundesliga soccer team Energie Cottbus reports an attempt at manipulation: “Large sums of money” have been offered to several players in order to ensure that a cup game runs according to schedule. The club makes the attempts public, the game is played anyway.

Regional soccer division FC Energie Cottbus has informed the Brandenburg Regional Football Association (FLB) about attempted match-fixing. In the past few days “several players of the FC Energie Cottbus have received offers to fix the match in the AOK-Landespokal Brandenburg at Ludwigsfelder FC.” Before the game in the second round of the national cup at the Northeast Oberligisten on Saturday, which Cottbus won 2-0, energy players were offered “high sums of money”, said the former Bundesliga club, in return for “a corresponding course” of the Game. The players concerned reported the “dubious offers” for manipulation to the club, which then informed both the regional association and Ludwigsfelder FC.

“FC Energie clearly distances itself from any kind of match-fixing, making it clear: ‘Not with us’ and will provide the relevant investigative authorities with all information on criminal prosecution,” the former Bundesliga club said in a statement.

Ludwigsfeld’s President Marcel Penquitt told the German Press Agency in the afternoon that a player from Energie Cottbus had been contacted via social media with a corresponding offer. In the morning the FLB President Jens Kaden, Cottbus President Sebastian Lemke and Penquitt decided to exclude the affected player from the match and to play the cup game. “It was all very professional,” said Penquitt. The game was won safely by the decimated team of the former Bundesliga coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz.

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