By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – Peace appears to have broken following an unsavoury row over match-fixing allegations between UEFA and German giants Bayern Munich.
Last week a report published on the website of German magazine Stern alleged that UEFA’s head of disciplinary services Peter Limacher, together with investigator Robin Boksic, were behind unsubstantiated claims that Bayern deliberately lost against Zenit St. Petersburg in the second leg of the 2008 UEFA Cup semifinal.
Zenit won 4-0 in Russia after a 1-1 draw in Munich.
For months after the game, rumours were rife that the second leg was fixed and UEFA subsequently appointed Limacher to lead its fight against match-fixing in general after nearly 300 matches across Europe were cited as being suspicious.
According to the comments in the German magazine, Limacher claimed searches had taken place at the homes of several senior figures at Bayern during which large sums of money and drugs were seized.
Bayern responded to the Stern report by saying they had opened legal proceedings against Limacher and Boksic, declaring the accusations made in Stern as “monstrous” and “defamatory”.
Initially UEFA countered by saying Bayern had over-reacted but have since backed down, promising Bayern it will investigate the claims of match-fixing attributed to its officials.
“Bayern Munich has been informed that, in order to clarify the case, UEFA has already opened an internal investigation on the whole matter,” a statement said.
The tone became calmer still after the two sides arranged peace talks – including the involvement of UEFA President Michel Platini - after Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (pictured) said he would not let anyone “sully the image and reputation of Bayern”.
Limacher denies he is guilty of any wrong-doing and UEFA have promised to support him.
But the dispute is clearly not over.
Bayern have called on Platini to sack both officials but UEFA have so far been reluctant to do this.
“UEFA wishes to reiterate its full confidence in Peter Limacher, who has never accused FC Bayern Munchen of any misconduct, as it is a permanent principle of UEFA to presume innocence in the absence of any proof,” the organisation said in a letter to the club.
“UEFA will, of course, take any relevant legal action to protect its integrity, as well as the integrity of Mr Limacher.”
The case, as they say in legal parlance, continues.
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