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Betting scandal rocks Germany
FRANKFURT, Germany, May 27 (UPI) -- A soccer betting scandal in Germany has forced the country's soccer federation to seek a lifetime ban on a referee and his attendant.

The soccer season ended this week, but the scandal, which started in January, has continued to persist, reports the Frankfurter Allgemeine.

Referee Jurgen Jansen and attendant Wieland Ziller are suspected of taking bribes to manipulate two games, the report said.

The federation's latest charges stem from new statements by Ante Sapina, a Croatian betting café owner who is suspected of being the mastermind behind the scam.

News reports alleged Sapina paid Jansen about $56,700 to manipulate the two games. Some of the payments allegedly were channeled through Ziller, the reports said.

Sapina also told investigators referee Dominik Marks accepted money in return for manipulating games, the news reports said. Last Friday, the federation requested a lifelong ban for Marks as well.

Jansen and Marks have denied any wrongdoing.

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Copyright 2005 by United Press International.