Three Romanian referees were arrested Thursday. Police arrested two on charges that they took bribes in exchange for rigging matches in favor of Romanian club FC Arges in 2008. Another referee was accused of being paid to write a favorable report about FC Arges, anti-corruption prosecutors said.
The three referees - Marcel Savaniu, Sorin Corpodean and Marcel Lica, who is deputy chairman of the Central Committee of Referees - will be under arrest for 29 days pending an investigation. The three were paid sums between $2,000 and $15,000, prosecutors said.
Lawyers for the three have appealed the arrests. The police action is connected to a wider corruption case involving football officials in Pitesti, where the trio were taken into custody. Last week Cornel Penescu, the owner of FC Arges, which is located in Pitesti, and referee chief Gheorghe Constantin were also arrested for 29 days on bribery charges. The two face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of paying or receiving bribes.
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