Nigerian agent ‘can fix WC matches’

Lucas Zanatta, 10, plays with a soccer ball outside the National Stadium after visiting the official World Cup trophy on exhibit at the stadium in Brasilia. Photo: Eraldo Peres

Lucas Zanatta, 10, plays with a soccer ball outside the National Stadium after visiting the official World Cup trophy on exhibit at the stadium in Brasilia. Photo: Eraldo Peres

Published Jun 2, 2014

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London - Nigeria are implicated in another match-fixing scandal after an agent was filmed claiming he could rig matches in Brazil.

Football agent Henry Chukwuma Okoroji was caught on camera insisting he could organise games and certain outcomes during the World Cup.

The allegations, which emerged in a newspaper on Monday, saw Okoroji suggest he could arrange a yellow card for £41 000 and a penalty for £81 000.

This comes just days after the National Crime Agency (NCA) investigated allegations that last week’s friendly between Nigeria and Scotland had been targeted. Speaking to a reporter from a hotel room in Milan, Okoroji and an associate - referred to as Joe - outlined their prices.

To enhance their credibility, the pair also invited Lazio and Nigeria footballer Ogenyi Onazi to the meeting, however, there is no suggestion he was involved in the match-fixing plot.

Okoroji said he had already recruited two Nigerian players for this summer and was planning to fly to Brazil to oversee his scams.

The agent said: “Hundred per cent, two players. It’s left up to you people what you want to do. You will pay for a yellow or a red card or a penalty.”

After making the offer, Okoroji rang a top Nigerian player and claimed he had agreed to take part in the fix.

But Okoroji added: “The player cannot come because of his career. These things you cannot speak on the phone because the agents are monitoring his calls.”

Daily Mail

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