Robert Hoyzer, the referee at the centre of a match-fixing scandal that has tainted German football, has been jailed for two years and five months for his part in the affair.
Hoyzer, 26, and another referee, Dominik Marks, were found guilty of fixing matches in return for payment from Ante Sapina, the ringleader of a betting syndicate.
Marks received a suspended sentence of one year and six months. Sapina received a jail term of two years and 11 months.
Former professional Steffen Karl, previously of Borussia Dortmund, is being tried separately in connection with the match-fixing.
The most notorious incident came when Hoyzer awarded regional league side Paderborn two penalties to help them come from two goals down to overcome first division Hamburg in the first round of the German Cup. He also sent off Hamburg striker Emile Mpenza.
Ante Sapina made more than €750,000 from Paderborn’s 4-2 victory, according to the court.
On another occasion, Ante Sapina won €870,000 on a single match, a second division game between Karlsruher SC and MSV Duisburg on Dec. 3, 2004 which Duisburg won 3-0 with Marks refereeing.
Hoyzer’s received €67,000 for his part in the affair.
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