FIFA urges government support

Kuala Lumpur - FIFA's head of security has warned that the fight against match-fixing will ultimately fail without the full support of governments across the world.

Ralf Mutschke said on Wednesday he hopes a Singaporean businessman accused of heading a crime syndicate that made millions by betting on rigged Italian games will be brought to face the courts with the help of Singaporean authorities.

Mutschke, speaking at a conference in Malaysia co-hosted by Interpol and the Asian Football Confederation to discuss match-fixing, said referees and players are being banned for life for corruption but the masterminds of the crimes still walk free because of legislative weaknesses.

He said debating the issue "is nice, but we have to come to a conclusion that it's time now for action."