Around 150 police were employed to raid 32 houses and offices between 6:00am and 11:30am on Wednesday following information given by disgraced referee Robert Hoyzer.

Hoyzer has already admitted fixing up to four matches for financial gain and other officials, players and outside parties are also involved.

"In total 25 people are suspected of playing a part in rigging football matches with players, referees and outside parties involved," read the statement.

"Along with Robert Hoyzer and the S. brothers (two Croatian men arrested in Berlin) referees Jurgen Jansen, Felix Zwayer and Dominik Marks are the accused.

"The people concerned are suspected of manipulating ten matches in the Bundesliga, second division, the regional league and cup in 2004."

Essen official Jansen was due to officiate Werder Bremen's match with Hansa Rostock on Sunday but was removed for his own protection.

Jansen is suspected of manipulating two matches with the first fixture between Bayer Leverkusen and FC St Pauli in the 2001/02 campaign.

Underdogs St Pauli made it 2-2 in the final minute after Jansen awarded them a curious penalty kick.

"I do not want to accuse anyone but when this scandal started the St Pauli match immediately sprung to mind," explained Klaus Toppmoller, the Leverkusen coach at the time.

Paderborn captain Thijs Waterink admitted Monday to receiving a 10,000 euro bonus from an anonymous backer and other players are also being looked at.

"A total of 14 players from Ahlen, Chemnitz, Energie Cottbus, Dynamo Dresden, Kickers Offenbach and SC Paderborn are also suspects," the prosecuter's office added.

"Hertha Berlin players are not amongst the suspects."

Hertha trio Nando Rafael, Josip Simunic and Alexander Madlung have formulated a 250,000 euro legal compensation package against magazine Focus who named them in connection with the match-fixing scandal.