Thomas Cichon, Ex-Bundesliga player admits to match-fixing

Thomas Cichon, who retired from professional soccer in 2011, is now dragging the name of Bundesliga down with him.

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According to ESPN, Cichon has admitted to match-fixing by purposely underperforming during a game in 2009. Cichon is currently on trial and being charged with accessory to fraud, tax evasion, and supporting a criminal organisation. 

Cichon admitted in court to playing a match in 2009 without “full strength and concentration”. His lawyer read out a statement that said: “I was told to take part in the match-fixing. I was ready to do so. We had to lose.”

Cichon was an integral part of a third tier Bundesliga team that, in his first season in 2006, helped the team to be promoted into the second tier.

In 2009, the club was set to be relegated to the third tier once again, and Cichon purposefully underperformed in order for his team to lose a match to Augsburg. The reason for throwing the game according to Cichon, is due to the fact that he owed a substantial sum of money due to gambling debts. After Cichon threw the match, his debt was reduced by 20,000 euros. 

Cichon has been banned from the DFB until 2015, and could face a sentence of up to 11 months. During the trial, Cichon said that he at first turned down the offer to fix matches in Bundesliga, but once his debts accumulated he had no choice. Cichon also denied fixing a second match.

The case will resume on June 11th, and FanSided will keep you updated whenever any new information is made available.