UEFA, soccer leaders open match-fixing summit

NYON, Switzerland (AP) -UEFA says it will take "severe action'' against those involved in European soccer's biggest match-fixing investigation.

Members of the European governing body met Wednesday with national association leaders from Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey.

German-based gangs are suspected to have rigged 200 matches as part of organized betting scams.

After a three-hour meeting, the group released a statement saying European soccer faces "a case of organized crime which exceeds the investigative power'' of sports organizations.

UEFA will request "full access'' to the files from investigating prosecutors in Bochum, Germany.

The group urged players and officials to come forward with information on match-fixing.