29 April 2014

NFF Denies South Africa 2010 World Cup Match Fixing

The Nigeria Football Federation has moved to quash allegations of match fixing levelled against it by Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal in his book.

Perumal who has recently served time in prison for match fixing claimed to have ensured Nigeria's qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa by enticing the Mozambican national team with a promise of $100,000 if they would hold Tunisia to a draw in Maputo and ensure that Nigeria qualified for the competition.

The Black Mambas did better by defefating Tunisia 1-0 while the Super Eagles won 3-2 away in Nairobi against Kenya to reach the first ever World Cup on African soil.


Perumal also said it was agreed for him, as payment, to organise the three World Cup warm up matches for the Super Eagles. He claimed to have also influenced the qualification of Honduras for the tournament.

However, the NFF through a statement by its general secretary Musa Amadu on Tuesday said the claims by Perumal are entirely false and an attempt to undermine the hard work of the organisation as well as the Super Eagles who fought hard to reach that tournament.

"We have gone through the fictitious write-up by the Singaporean, who was fittingly convicted for his nefarious activities and has spent time in jail," Amadu said

"The NFF will only say at this moment that there was no truth to the claim and that we had nothing to do with Perumal all through the Super Eagles' qualifying series for 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"Perumal's statements are a hogwash and have no legs to stand on. We have ordered for the book itself with a view to digesting it and looking critically at it.

"If the book impugns on the image of the Nigeria Football Federation, our players and the larger image of our dear country, we will take appropriate action," he said.

Furthermore, the NFF's Integrity Officer, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, stated that alongside the NFF Match-fixing Investigative Officer, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, he is in communication with FIFA Security on match-fixing matters and they will dig deeper into the claim.

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