The NFF has said that claims by Singaporean Wilson
Raj Perumal that he enabled the Super Eagles to qualify for the Mundial
in South Africa are entirely false and unfounded
The Nigeria Football Federation has moved to quash allegations of match
fixing levelled against it by Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal in his
book.
Perumal who has recently served time in prison for match
fixing claimed to have ensured Nigeria's qualification for the 2010
World Cup in South Africa by enticing the Mozambican national team with a
promise of $100,000 if they would hold Tunisia to a draw in Maputo and
ensure that Nigeria qualified for the competition.
The Black
Mambas did better by defefating Tunisia 1-0 while the Super Eagles won
3-2 away in Nairobi against Kenya to reach the first ever World Cup on
African soil.
Perumal also said it was agreed for him, as
payment, to organise the three World Cup warm up matches for the Super
Eagles. He claimed to have also influenced the qualification of Honduras
for the tournament.
However, the NFF through a statement by its
general secretary Musa Amadu on Tuesday said the claims by Perumal are
entirely false and an attempt to undermine the hard work of the
organisation as well as the Super Eagles who fought hard to reach that
tournament.
"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," Amadu said
"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," he said.
Furthermore, the NFF's Integrity
Officer, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, stated that alongside the NFF Match-fixing
Investigative Officer, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, he is in communication
with FIFA Security on match-fixing matters and they will dig deeper into
the claim.
Culled from goal.com
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