http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/01/sport/football/football-world-cup-cameroon-match-fixing/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29
World Cup: Cameroon to investigate match fixing claims
By *Eoghan Macguire*, for CNN
updated 9:13 AM EDT, Tue July 1, 2014
(CNN) -- The World Cup's focus on attacking football has won global praise
but a cloud scurried across the tournament Tuesday as match fixing claims
surrounding Cameroon's participation in the event emerged.
The Cameroon Football Association ( Fecafoot) has confirmed it's
investigating allegations made in the German media that seven of its
players were involved in match fixing during the group stages of the World
Cup finals in Brazil.
While previous investigations centered on trying to fix international
friendlies or low-profile qualifiers, this is the first time since 1982
that World Cup group stage games have come under scrutiny.
The "Indomitable Lions" were drawn in the same pool as Croatia, Mexico and
host nation Brazil, losing all three games.
A convicted match fixer spoke to German magazine Der Spiegel correctly
predicting one of the results of the African nation.
"We wish to inform the general public that, though not yet contacted by
FIFA in regards to this affair, our administration has already instructed
its Ethics Committee, to further investigate these accusations," said a
Fecafoot statement.
Wilson Raj Perumal, who was detained by police in Finland earlier this year
on an international arrest warrant, told Der Spiegel that Cameroon would
lose to Croatia while also having a player sent off.
Midfielder Alex Song was red carded during the game for lashing out at
Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic, while goals from Ivica Olic, Ivan Perisic
and a brace from Mandzukic without reply secured a 4-0 victory.
The match also saw Cameroon players Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Benjamin
Moukandjo aggressively confront each other, with television pictures
appearing to show Assou-Ekotto attempting to head-butt Moukandjo.
The Fecafoot statement continued: "Recent allegations of fraud around
Cameroon 2014 FIFA World Cup three preliminary games, especially Cameroon
vs. Croatia, as well of the 'existence of seven bad apples (in our national
team)' do not reflect the values and principles promoted by our
administration, in line with FIFA Code of Conduct and the ethics of our
nation."
In the Der Spiegel interview, Perumal, who CNN is trying to contact, used
the expression "seven bad apples."
FIFA was not immediately available for comment, while Fecafoot added in its
statement that "in 55 years of existence, it has never been sanctioned for,
involved in, or even linked to match fixing or any fraud of any kind."
The investigation marks an uncomfortable end to Cameroon's disastrous World
Cup campaign.
Players initially refused to board the plane to Brazil until a dispute with
Fecafoot over bonus payments was resolved. Although an agreement was
eventually reached, the team's departure was delayed by a day.
An opening game 1-0 loss to Mexico was followed up by the 4-0 thrashing by
Croatia. Hosts Brazil then completed the misery by defeating the four-time
African Cup of Nations champion 4-1.
In the aftermath of the Croatia defeat, coach Volker Finke described the
behavior of some of his players as "unacceptable."
"Some players behaved very badly, and that's why we have conceded four
goals," Finke said to L'Equipe. "I know that it is difficult to play with
10 men, but that is not a reason to lose it to this point.
"The game was balanced until the red card. The Croatians were more clinical
in front of goal, but Cameroon also had chances to score.
"The behavior of some of the players is really not satisfactory. Even when
we were 11-a-side, it was not acceptable."
In 1982, Algeria, despite having beaten then West Germany, went out after a
seemingly contrived 1-0 win over Austria.
Received on Tue Jul 01 2014 - 09:29:10 EDT