World Cup 2014: Cameroon Investigates Match-Fixing Claims

Cameroon officials are to investigate claims that seven of their players were involved in match-fixing at the World Cup in Brazil. The ethics committee of the African country�s football federation will look at allegations of �fraud� by �seven bad apples� in their three group games. The allegations have been made in a German news magazine Der Spiegel by a convicted match fixer from Singapore. Cameroon lost all their Group A games, including a 4-0 defeat by Croatia. The Indomitable Lions had Alex Song sent off for lashing out at Mario Mandzukic in that game, while team-mates Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Benjamin Moukandjo clashed late on in the game. A statement from Cameroon�s FA read: �Recent allegations of fraud around Cameroon�s 2014 Fifa World Cup three preliminary games, especially Cameroon versus Croatia, as well of the �existence of seven bad apples [in our national team]� do not reflect the values and principles promoted by our administration, in line with Fifa�s code of conduct and the ethics of our nation. �We are strongly committed to employ all means necessary to resolve this disruptive matter in the shortest delays.� Fifa did not comment on whether it was looking into the issue as football�s world governing body did not want to �compromise any possible investigations�. It did, however, add: �Speaking generally, the integrity of the game is a top priority for Fifa and as such we take any allegations of match manipulation very seriously.� Cameroon�s build up to the tournament in Brazil was marred by theplayers refusing to board a plane to Brazil until a dispute over bonus payments had been settled. A financial package was eventually agreed with Cameroon�s football federation, Fecafoot, but the squad�s journey to the World Cup had been delayed for almost a day. They started the tournament with a 1-0 defeat by Mexico prior to the loss to Croatia and being beaten 4-1 by hosts Brazil. �Some players behaved very badly, and that�s why we have conceded four goals,� Cameroon head coach Volker Finke told French newspaper L�Equipe after the Croatia defeat. �I know that it is difficult to play with 10 men, but that is not a reason to lose it to this point. �The game was balanced until the red card. The Croatians were more clinical in front of goal, but Cameroon also had chances to score. �The behaviour of some of the players is really not satisfactory. Even when we were 11-a-side, it was not acceptable.�