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25 April 2024

'Compelling evidence' of match-fixing in 2010

A picture shows the logo of the football's world governing body FIFA ontop of its headquarters in Zurich. (AFP)

Published
By AP

The South African Football Association says a FIFA report into match-fixing ahead of the 2010 World Cup has found "compelling evidence" that one or more games played by the host in the buildup to the world's showpiece tournament were fixed by betting syndicates.

South Africa's national football association says Saturday that it was "infiltrated" by now-convicted match-fixer Wilson Perumal and his "bogus" football company Football4U — which was actually a front for the Asian syndicates.

No players have been implicated in fixing matches. Instead, referees appointed by Football4U are believed to have fixed the games. SAFA didn't identify the games but South Africa's 5-0 win over Guatemala was under suspicion.

SAFA says FIFA's report — which it received on Friday — also recommended "further examination" of some South African officials.