NFF: Match-fixing allegations fiction, fallacy
The Nigeria Football Federation has dismissed as ‘totally fallacious’, the claim by a self-confessed and convicted Singaporean match-fixer, Wilson Raj Perumal that he helped Nigeria qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.
In a statement in Abuja, the NFF declared that the entire claim by Perumal was nothing more than ‘distinct fiction’ and insisted that the true heroes of Nigeria’s qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals were the Federal Government, the NFF, players and coaches of the Super Eagles and the generality of Nigeria ball fans.
“We have gone through the fictitious write-up by the Singaporean, who was fittingly convicted for his nefarious activities and has spent time in jail. The NFF will only say at this moment that there was no truth to the claim and that we had nothing to do with Perumal all through the Super Eagles’ qualifying series for 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“Perumal’s statements are a hogwash and have no legs to stand on. We have ordered for the book itself with a view to digesting it and looking critically at it. 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,” NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu said yesterday.
Amadu said that further enquiries should be directed to world football governing body, FIFA, since the match was a FIFA competition qualifier.
Furthermore, NFF’s Integrity Officer, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, stated that alongside the NFF Matchfixing Investigative Officer, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, he is in communication with FIFA Security on match-fixing matters and they will dig deeper into the claim.
Nigeria overhauled Tunisia, Kenya and Mozambique in the final rounds of the qualification series to reach the first FIFA World Cup finals to be staged on African soil, in 2010.