A Dutch national who has appeared in court in Germany for fixing football matches will not face jail time after judges ruled German law is not applicable in his case.

Paul R told the court he had bribed players from German club Sankt Pauli and then bet on the outcome via Asian betting agencies. However, as the deals were struck in the Netherlands, he cannot be tried in Germany, the court said.

Paul R was extradited to Germany in January and is suspected of involvement in large-scale match-fixing in 2008 and 2009. He is also considered to be a central figure in an international match-fixing ring. R, known as ‘Rooie Paul’, comes from Noordwijk and was in jail in the Netherlands for fencing stolen paintings.

Two other men on trial, a former Sankt Pauli player and a middleman, were found not guilty because of a lack of evidence, broadcaster Nos says.