FIFA INVESTIGATES NIGERIA ON MATCH FIXING

Fifa has opened an investigation
into allegations by convicted
match-fixer Wilson Perumal Raj,
that he helped Nigeria qualify
for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
In his book released last Monday, the 48-year-
old Singaporean revealed how he met with a
Nigeria Football Federation official to try and
fix games so that Super Eagles could top their
group.
He also stated in his book that he had an
agreement with the Nigerian federation that he
would organise friendly matches for its men's
national team as well as some percentage of
whatever Fifa pays the country in lieu of
qualifying.
NFF spokesperson, Ademola Olajire confirmed
Fifa are looking into the matter with full
cooperation from the federation.
Olajire affirmed that the NFF has received
correspondence from the football ruling body
related to the case and are watching tapes of
the games Nigeria played during the qualifying
series for the 2010 World Cup.
"We have forwarded the letter to our match-
fixing officer Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and NFF's
Integrity Officer Dr. Christian Emeruwa. All
enquiries should now go to Fifa as I explained
in my earlier release on the matter," Olajire
said.
The NFF had in an earlier release condemned
the allegations, citing it as a figment of
imagination of a convicted felon.
"Perumal's statements are a hogwash and have
no legs to stand on. We have ordered the book
itself with a view to digesting it and looking
critically at it," NFF General Secretary,
Barrister Musa Amadu said on Tuesday.
" 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."
Nigeria qualified for the 2010 Fifa World Cup
ahead of Tunisia, Mozambique and Kenya in the
final rounds of the Africa zone of qualifying.