A match between Nigeria and Argentina is being investigated by Fifa after unusual betting patterns suggested it had been targeted by match-fixers. "Fifa can confirm that this match between Nigeria and Argentina was one that we had an active interest in and forms part of a wider Fifa investigation," a spokesman for the world governing body told the Daily Telegraph.

Concerns were raised about betting patterns during Wednesday's game, which was won 4-1 by Nigeria in Abuja, specifically before the final goal was scored.

With Nigeria 4-o ahead there was a huge swing on some in-play markets which appeared to anticipate a fifth goal. Five minutes of stoppage time were awarded but play continued beyond that and the referee awarded a 98th-minute penalty to Argentina for handball.

Replays suggest the penalty was awarded after the ball bounced up off the lower leg of a Nigeria defender. The referee indicated that he adjudged the ball to have struck a hand. Mauro Boselli scored from the spot.

"There had been some crazy moves on the in-running market early in the game," Matthew Benham of SmartOdds, an online betting firm, said. "With 86 minutes played the odds for 4.50 [a fifth goal to be scored] were absolutely insane. The market was effectively saying it was odds against that there would be no more goals. It is hard to get an exact figure for how much would have been bet to force that kind of swing but we are certainly talking hundreds of thousands, possibly more than £1,000,000."

Six players from Premier League clubs were involved in the fixture an understrength Argentina were captained by Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta.

Chelsea's Mikel John Obi and Everton's Victor Anichebe were also part of the Nigeria squad. Boselli (Wigan Athletic), Mauro Formica (Blackburn Rovers) and Damián Martínez (Arsenal) were in the Argentina squad. No players are thought to be under suspicion.

Fifa

Fifa confirmed that it "will be working closely with colleagues at the Fifa Early Warning System" to see the unusual fluctuations in betting patterns and how they tally with its wider investigation. "Fifa is receiving lots of information and co-operation across Europe, Asia, Africa and South and Central America, and as an organisation we are committed to tackling this problem in the most vigorous way possible," a spokesman said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jun/04/nigeria-argentina-fifa-betting-patterns