27 January 1976 - "Ruined" May Have Been Overstating Things A Bit

On 27 January 1976, South Korean World Cup hero Ahn Jung-Hwan was born in Paju. He was once described as "the man who ruined Italian football."

He started his professional career in 1998 with Pusan Daewoo Royals, but moved to Italy in 2000 to play for Perugia, where he made a total of 33 appearances in two seasons and scored five goals. But it was the summer of 2002 that made him an international name, as he scored the golden goal for South Korea that eliminated Italy in the World Cup Round of 16. The day after the match, Perugia owner Luciano Gaucci cancelled Ahn's contract, reportedly saying "I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian football."

Gaucci later had a change of heart, but Ahn was so offended by the slight that he refused to consider a return. He moved instead to Shimizu S-Pulse for a season, starting a series of short stays that included spells at Yokohama (2004-05), Metz (2005-06), and Duisburg (2006), before returning to South Korea with Suwon Bluewings in 2006. Most recently, he played for Chinese side Dalian Shide from 2009 to 2011.

In the meantime, he continued to play for the South Korean national team, scoring 17 goals in 77 appearances before retiring in 2010.

3 December 2004 - Marks Ups The Ante

On 3 December 2004, MSV Duisburg secured a 0-3 away victory over Karlsruher SC in a second division league match. Refereed by Dominik Marks (right), the match was the last of thirteen that year which were later investigated by the DFB in response to allegations of match-fixing.

The investigation focused on referee Robert Hoyzer and included matches from the 2.Bundesliga, the third-division Regionalliga Nord, and the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) going back to 30 May 2004. Investigators determined that Hoyzer and Marks met regularly with members of a Croatian gambling syndicate run by three brothers, Ante, Filip, and Milan Sapina.

Hoyzer's fellow referees reported him to the DFB after he raised suspicion by making a series of questionable decisions in a German Cup match on 21 August 2004. Upon learning of the investigation, Hoyzer resigned. He later testified that he and Marks had received payment in order to influence the outcome of certain matches. Both Hoyzer and Marks received lifetime bans, with Hoyzer also receiving a 29-month prison sentence and Marks an 18-month prison sentence.

Reportedly, Ante Sapina placed a €240,000 bet on the Karlsruher/Duisburg match and won €870,000. Investigators, however, concluded that while Marks was guilty of attempting to manipulate the match, the attempt did not affect the outcome and the DSB allowed the result to stand.

Duisburg finished in second place that season, earning promotion to the 1.Bundesliga for 2005-06, but returned to the second division the following season.

22 October 1977 - That's An Appropriate Shirt Sponsor

On 22 October 1977, Yasuhiko Okudera became the first Japanese footballer to play in Europe when he debuted for Köln in the Bundesliga.

The 25-year old midfielder joined Köln from Furukawa Electric, where he made 100 appearances in eight seasons, while winning a league and Emperor's Cup double in 1976, followed by the Japanese Super Cup in 1977. That summer, the team traveled to West Germany for some exhibitions, where Okudera attracted the interest of Köln manager Hennes Weisweiler.

Japanese football was restricted to amateur status at the time, so the move made him the first professional Japanese player. He arrived on 5 October and made his debut less than two weeks later in an away match against MSV Duisburg, which Köln won 1-2. They went on to win both the league and the German Cup that season.

Okudera remained with Köln for just over three seasons, making 94 appearances, then spent time with Hertha Berlin (1980-81) and Werder Bremen (1981-86) before returning to Furukawa in 1986 to help establish a professional league in Japan.

27 January 1976 - "Ruined" May Have Been Overstating Things A Bit

On 27 January 1976, South Korean World Cup hero Ahn Jung-Hwan was born in Paju. He was once described as "the man who ruined Italian football."

He started his professional career in 1998 with Pusan Daewoo Royals, but moved to Italy in 2000 to play for Perugia, where he made a total of 33 appearances in two seasons and scored five goals. But it was the summer of 2002 that made him an international name, as he scored the golden goal for South Korea that eliminated Italy in the World Cup Round of 16. The day after the match, Perugia owner Luciano Gaucci cancelled Ahn's contract, reportedly saying "I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian football."

Gaucci later had a change of heart, but Ahn was so offended by the slight that he refused to consider a return. He moved instead to Shimizu S-Pulse for a season, starting a series of short stays that included spells at Yokohama (2004-05), Metz (2005-06), and Duisburg (2006), before returning to South Korea with Suwon Bluewings in 2006. Most recently, he played for Chinese side Dalian Shide from 2009 to 2011.

In the meantime, he continues to play for the South Korean national team, scoring 17 goals in 77 appearances.

3 December 2004 - Marks Ups The Ante

On 3 December 2004, MSV Duisburg secured a 0-3 away victory over Karlsruher SC in a second division league match. Refereed by Dominik Marks (right), the match was the last of thirteen that year which were later investigated by the DFB in response to allegations of match-fixing.

The investigation focused on referee Robert Hoyzer and included matches from the 2.Bundesliga, the third-division Regionalliga Nord, and the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) going back to 30 May 2004. Investigators determined that Hoyzer and Marks met regularly with members of a Croatian gambling syndicate run by three brothers, Ante, Filip, and Milan Sapina.

Hoyzer's fellow referees reported him to the DFB after he raised suspicion by making a series of questionable decisions in a German Cup match on 21 August 2004. Upon learning of the investigation, Hoyzer resigned. He later testified that he and Marks had received payment in order to influence the outcome of certain matches. Both Hoyzer and Marks received lifetime bans, with Hoyzer also receiving a 29-month prison sentence and Marks an 18-month prison sentence.

Reportedly, Ante Sapina placed a €240,000 bet on the Karlsruher/Duisburg match and won €870,000. Investigators, however, concluded that while Marks was guilty of attempting to manipulate the match, the attempt did not affect the outcome and the DSB allowed the result to stand.

Duisburg finished in second place that season, earning promotion to the 1.Bundesliga for 2005-06, but returned to the second division the following season.