Robert Hoyzer, 27, was jailed for two years and five months by a Berlin court last year after he admitted fixing matches in a two-million-euro (2.7-million-dollar) betting scam.

The severity of his sentence surprised many observers because prosecutors had only called for a suspended jail term, but an appeal failed in December.

Hoyzer told Sport-Bild magazine that he was not scared of serving his sentence in a prison in Berlin.

"I am not anxious, it is more like concern and respect. I would compare it with starting a new job," Hoyzer said.

Most of the matches he admitted fixing were in the German second and third division, although a German Cup match between first division SV Hamburg and third division Paderborn and a Turkish first division match between Ankaragucu and Galatasaray were also affected.

In the most controversial match, Hoyzer awarded amateurs Paderborn two penalties and sent off a Hamburg player to help the minnows recover from two goals and win the Cup match.

Hoyzer admitted receiving 70,000 euros and a flat-screen television set for fixing matches.