Fifa hits back at Cameroon fixing claims

Fifa said it had received no evidence of corruption involving Cameroon's World Cup squad. Photo by: Michael Dalder/Reuters

Fifa said it had received no evidence of corruption involving Cameroon's World Cup squad. Photo by: Michael Dalder/Reuters

Published Jul 2, 2014

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Rio de Janeiro - Fifa said Wednesday it had received no evidence of corruption involving Cameroon's World Cup squad after a report in Germany which raised suspicions about their first-round defeat to Croatia.

Fifa spokeswoman Delia Fischer said the governing body had requested all details of communications between Germany's Der Spiegel magazine and notorious Singapore match-fixer Wilson Perumal.

Perumal on Tuesday denied he had predicted the result of Cameroon's 4-0 defeat to Croatia last month, which is now the subject of an investigation by Cameroon's Football Federation.

“We have requested from Der Spiegel all the communications with Perumal and any other material they claim to possess in order to prove the allegations they have made in public,” Fischer said.

“The article has put the integrity of the Fifa World Cup in question which is a serious allegation.”

Fischer reiterated that so far none of the 56 matches played at the World Cup had given cause for concern.

“As mentioned on various occasions, Fifa has carefully monitored all 56 games to date and continue to monitor,” she said.

“So far we have found no indication of any match manipulation on the betting market in relation to any of the 2014 Fifa World Cup matches.”

She also appeared to criticise Der Spiegel's report.

“All media organisations have a responsibility not to call people's or organisation's credibility into question for a headline, without validating carefully any information.”

The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) said its ethics committee was looking into Perumal's allegations, reported by Der Spiegel, that he forecast the 4-0 victory by Croatia and that a player would be sent off.

But Perumal issued a strong denial on Tuesday, saying he was “shocked and amazed” at the report of his actions, insisting he had only given an “informal assessment” of the Cameroon-Croatia game with a journalist.

Sapa-AFP

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