Bayern Munich file charges against UEFA investigator

MUNICH - Bayern Munich have filed charges against European football organising body UEFA’s chief investigator in connection with match-fixing allegations.

It follows a report to appear in Germany’s Stern magazine which says UEFA chief investigator Peter Limacher had been “taken in” by a “fraudster” over match-fixing claims made by informer Robin Boksic.

Limacher dismissed the accusations and named Boksic a reliable source. UEFA issued a statement saying there was no evidence of match fixing around the match in question, a UEFA Cup semi-final second-leg match against Zenit St Petersburg in May 2008, and that neither it nor Limacher made any allegations.

Bayern allegedly sold the game to the Russian mafia. Stern said Limacher and Boksic told Spanish prosecutors that there was evidence Munich were bribable.

In a secret dossier by world governing body FIFA, Boksic, a Croatian, has now been identified as a “conman” who has “seriously damaged” the European footballing body, Stern reported.

According to the magazine, Boksic was employed by Limacher as a “UEFA investigator”.

Bayern said it had filed charges with Munich prosecutors against both Limacher and Boksic, accusing both of making libellous and untrue allegations.

The German champions have also demanded a statement from UEFA president Michel Platini on the affair and said they expect UEFA to take immediate personnel consequences.

UEFA expressed its surprise about Munich’s move, insisted it had no fixing evidence and would take legal action if necessary.

“UEFA confirms that, as of today, no evidence of any match-fixing exists and that, therefore, no accusation was, or is being made either by UEFA or by Peter Limacher against FC Bayern München, FC Zenit St. Petersburg or any of their representatives,” the continental body said.

The UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said that it appears as though they are overreacting and UEFA also threatened it will take any relevant legal action to protect its integrity, as well as the integrity of Limacher.

Looking at Boksic, UEFA said it “will take all necessary steps to clarify the matter”.

Limacher, meanwhile, told the Finacial Times Deutschland paper, in a report made available ahead of Thursday’s publication, he never made the accusations against Munich as reported by Stern.

He also dismissed the allegations against Boksic, naming him “a fully reliable source” who in the past has provided detailed information around suspicious matches.