FRANKFURT — German police have arrested an undisclosed number of people suspected of fixing matches in major European leagues.

The arrests, in Germany and elsewhere, came as part of an investigation into match-fixing supported by European soccer's governing body UEFA, according to a statement by the prosecutor's office in Bochum.

The probe has been underway since the beginning of the year and targeted an international gang suspected of wide-ranging match-fixing.

The gang is suspected of bribing players, coaches, referees and officials in "high-ranking European leagues" to manipulate games in order to make money on betting, the statement said Thursday.

It said raids were conducted in Germany and Europe on Thursday and a large number of arrests were made.

No other details were given. A news conference is scheduled for Friday in Bochum.