The issue of national identity is taken seriously by Balkan people – including the least serious among them.
Albania Football Clubs in Match-Fixing Scandal
Tirana | 25 November 2009 |
“From the original list of around 40 fixtures in Europe that were considered suspicious in terms of results, UEFA is today further investigating seven European club competition fixtures under its jurisdiction in more detail,” UEFA General Secretary, Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
Two of the clubs under investigation are the Albanian teams KF Tirana and KS Vllaznia. Founded in 1920 KF Tirana is the most decorated team in Albania, having won the local superior league 24 times, the cup 13 times and the supercup eight times.
Infantino said UEFA is also investigating three referees and one official connected to UEFA. No member of UEFA's administrative staff is suspected, he said.
"We don't know if this is the end of the story," Infantino said.
UEFA is cooperating with prosecutors in Bochum, Germany, who are leading a criminal probe into a series of German-based betting syndicates suspected of bribing players, coaches, referees and other officials to fix games. The suspected leaders are believed to have made at least 10 million euro.
On Wednesday Croatian police announced that they arrested a Slovenian man in connection with the investigation into match-fixing in European football. Police said Dragan Mihelic, 38, was stopped Monday as he was entering Croatia from neighbouring Slovenia.
The arrest warrant was issued by Germany, where authorities suspect him of fraud and money laundering.
