Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - FIFA has opened an investigation into allegations by convicted match-fixer Wilson Perumal Raj, that he helped Nigeria qualify for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
According to the supersport.com website, 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.
