Posted: 2010-07-09 20:17

Fifa was warned before this year's World Cup of fears Nigeria's team could be vulnerable to match-fixing, BBC Newsnight has learned.

A Uefa investigator in South Africa raised concerns, including over betting patterns.

Nigeria went out of the tournament in the first round, losing to Greece.

In a statement to Newsnight, Fifa did not deny getting a warning but say they have "no indication" of match-fixing in any World Cup matches in South Africa.

Newsnight understands a member of Uefa's Disciplinary Services Unit – which is responsible for investigating match-fixing – first became suspicious during qualifying rounds of the World Cup and it is alleged that certain Nigerian players came forward and said their team was vulnerable to manipulation.

On the morning of Nigeria's first match, he alerted Fifa's new Early Warning System, set up to look for signs of match-rigging, of his concerns.

German journalist Christian Bergmann also had a call just before the first Nigerian game of the tournament from a Uefa contact, who said there were suggestions that "some players from the Nigerian team are actually involved in some form of manipulation".

In their second game of the tournament, Nigeria were strong favourites to beat Greece and took an early 1-0 lead.

But, after just 33 minutes, Nigeria had a man sent off and Greece scored their first-ever World Cup goals to win 2-1.


After their elimination, Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan was so angry with the team's poor performances that he suspended the whole team from international competition. He later reversed that decision following a complaint from Fifa.


source:kickoff.com

rubbish

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8805137.stm

Not that I believe the story. . .but if the story is true, Yobo has to be one of the players involved.

How else does one explain Yobo sitting on the ground 'so comfortably' for Greece's 2nd goal when he wasn't injured or anything? The same Yobo got up by himself without any sign of discomfort after the goal was scored.

wonders shall never end, i dont trust those boys or how can one explain

-kaitas action ,
-obasi's empty net against greece
-yakubu's empty net as well etc

fifa better investigate them

abeg this one na big lie, we carry old and useless players like kanu,yakubu,yobo and keita, so it was not suprised that we got only 1point.

I just saw this segment on BBC newsnight.

I can see it being true though, especially with Yobo - boy dey greed when come to money.

Na which kind yeye match-fixing be that one?

Match-fixing that got Nigeria eliminated in the 1st round.

Well, those boys are truly good-for-nothings, and it's a shame that these people are as bad as the so-called soccer administrators.

Read something on Sahara Reporters recently. The columnist aptly described our players as 'deceiving the nation for money with their mediocre soccer skills'. Now that I read this story, that description seems to fit well.