12 Hungary players, coach, organisers guilty of match-fixing

BUDAPEST: A Hungarian court has handed out suspended prison sentences, bans and fines to 12 football players, a coach and the two organisers of match-fixing incidents which took place from 2007-2009 involving Budapest's REAC team.

The Pest District Court said Wednesday that the players received up to 2,500 euros ($2,840) each per match to ensure results in seven matches in Hungary's top division and league cup.

Two players were acquitted even though they accepted bribes because they did not play in the matches in question and the statute of limitations had expired.

REAC director Robert Kutasi killed himself in 2012, shortly after several players were taken into police custody on allegations of match-fixing.

Two other similar trials, including one involving referees allegedly fixing international matches, are still ongoing.