Suspected match-fixers allegedly playing in England with FA's knowledge and Gattuso cleared after Italian investigation

In the news this week we find the resolution of the match-fixing allegations made by Der Spiegel magazine during the recent World Cup regarding Cameroon. The magazine had claimed that convicted match-fixer Perumal had predicted the result of Cameroon’s match against Croatia because it was fixed, but FIFA has stated that they have found no evidence to support those allegations.

The English Football Association has also appeared in the headlines, after it allegedly admitted to having a ‘watch list’ of active players who may be involved in match-fixing but who cannot be prevented from playing for various reasons.

CURRENT INVESTIGATION

Cameroon

FIFA said Wednesday it had received no evidence of corruption involving Cameroon as the World Cup took a breather from football ahead of the quarter-finals. A spokeswoman for the governing body said FIFA had requested all details of communications between Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine and notorious Singapore match-fixer Wilson Perumal, as well as any other material they claim to possess in order to prove their allegations. The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) said its ethics committee was looking into Perumal’s allegations, reported by Der Spiegel, that he forecast the 4-0 victory by Croatia and that a player would be sent off. But Perumal issued a strong denial on Tuesday, saying he was “shocked and amazed” at the report of his actions, insisting he had only given an “informal assessment” of the Cameroon-Croatia game with a journalist.

Source: "No proof of match-fixing after Cameroon claims", 6 September 2014, AFP, https://sundiatapost.com/2014/09/no-proof-of-match-fixing-after-cameroon-claims-fifa/#/jobs

El Salvador

The majority of the players accused of match-fixing are aware of the crimes the Attorney General is prosecuting them for and have named the lawyers that will represent them. The court has not yet contacted the Malayan-Singaporean Gaye Alassane, nor the Nicaraguans Yaser Arauz or Armando Collado, all acting under Perumal’s Exclusive Sports company, and wanted for the crimes of money laundering and unlawful association. Exclusive Sports fixed a match between El Salvador and Costa Rica in 2010, with the Salvadorean Football Federation (FESFUT) receiving US$30,000 to cover the team’s expenses. FESFUT has stated that it only became aware of the match-fixing allegations through the investigations of the El Grafico in 2011. The prosecution has not yet accused any officials.

Source: "Exjugadores afrontan hoy audiencia por amaños", 4 September 2014, La Prensa Grafica, https://www.laprensagrafica.com/2014/09/04/exjugadores-afrontan-hoy-audiencia-por-amaos 

Italy

AC Milan legend Rino Gattuso has been cleared from an Italian match-fixing investigation. As part of the Calcioscommesse scandal, the OFI Crete coach was accused of being involved in the ‘manipulation of some of Milan’s games’ during the 2012-13 Serie A season. Gattuso has always maintained his innocence and yesterday evening was officially cleared, with Guido Salvaini telling the Cremona tribunal this week: “there is not enough evidence supporting Gennaro Gatuso’s involvement in the alteration of any Milan game.”

Source: "AC Milan legend Gattuso cleared of match-fixing", 3 September 2014, Tribal Football, https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/ac-milan-legend-gattuso-cleared-match-fixing-4038646

South Africa

Parliament has instructed Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula to seek answers urgently from FIFA as to why it was keeping the nation in the dark about its investigation into allegations of match-fixing relating to Bafana Bafana games. MPs have also called for the South African Sports Act to be amended to give Mbalula and parliament powers to summon international sporting federations like FIFA to account to the legislature on its dealings with domestic sports federations. Bafana Bafana games in 2010 against Colombia, Guatemala, Thailand and Bulgaria were all placed under investigation after it emerged that a company linked to convicted bookmaker Wilson Raj Perumal, Football4U, was contracted to appoint match officials for those games. Several top SAFA executives were implicated in the alleged fraud at the time. Fifa’s constitution does not allow government interference in its affairs. But Mbalula said there was nothing stopping MPs from engaging the body on the issue.