Kiel, Germany - Prosecutors have begun an investigation against the manager and former coach of a leading German handball club in connection with an alleged corruption affair.

Chief prosecutor Uwe Wick of the prosecutors office in Kiel said Monday Uwe Schwenker, the manager of German handball champions THW Kiel, was being investigated on alleged embezzlement charges.

The northern German club's former coach Zvonimir Serdarusic is being investigated on suspicion of aiding embezzlement, Wick said.

According to a report in the online service of news magazine Spiegel, Schwenker and Serdarusic were under suspicion of bribing referees in at least 10 Champions League matches since 2000.

The matches allegedly affected are said to include the 2007 Champions League final against SG Flensburg-Handewitt. Kiel won the second leg 29-27 after the first leg finished 28-28.

Schwenker and THW Kiel have denied any involvement in alleged match-rigging. (dpa)