By DAN KARELL
The 2014 World Cup has so far been one of the most exciting and dramatic World Cups in the tournament’s history, but some of the shine of this year’s edition could be coming off.
In a press release late Monday evening, the Cameroonian FA said that they’ve instructed their ethics committee to look into allegations that Cameroon’s 4-0 defeat to Croatia was fixed. The allegations come from a report with Der Spiegel in Germany, which states that just hours prior to the match, convicted Singaporean match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal correctly predicted that Cameroon would lose 4-0 and that a Cameroonian player would be sent off in the first half, which was the case when Alex Song was dismissed in the 40th minute.
Raj Perumal also added in his conversation with Der Spiegel that the Cameroonian side had “seven bad apples,” or players who would be in on a fix if one occurred, a claim that Cameroon’s FA vehemently denied.
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,” Joseph Owona, president of the Cameroon FA normalization committee, said in a statement. “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.
“We are strongly committed to employ all means necessary to resolve this disruptive matter in the shortest delays. In the meantime we legitimately request that any related information, unless brought before our federation and/or its Ethics Committee, be held for or treated as mere assumption. We wish to reinstate that in fifty-five (55) years of existence, FECAFOOT has never been sanctioned for, involved in, or even linked to match fixing or any fraud of any kind.”
Cameroon, who were involved in a pay dispute with their administrators prior to even leaving for Brazil, crashed out of the group stage with just one goal scored in three losses, conceding nine times.
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What do you think of these developments? Do you believe World Cup games could be fixed? Would you still watch the World Cup if it was proven that a game was fixed?
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