The world of football is set to experience another black eye, with Wilson Raj Perumal claiming he helped Nigeria and Honduras reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Singaporean match-fixer has already admitted to being part of a syndicate that fixed a flurry of club friendlies by bribing both players and officials.
This, however, is no friendly. This is qualification for the most prestigious tournament in international football.
In a new book co-written by investigative journalists Alessandro Righi and Emanuele Piano, Perumal claims (h/t to the Guardian), "My plan had worked and I was the unsung hero of Nigeria's qualification to the final rounds of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa," writes Perumal. "Ferrying Nigeria and Honduras to the World Cup was a personal achievement. '[Expletive],' I considered. 'I got two teams to qualify for the World Cup but I cannot tell anyone.'"
Honduras remained unaware of his intervention. Nigeria benefited from a promised $100,000 bonus to the Mozambique Football Association if they were able to hold Tunisia to a draw, keeping Tunisia from leapfrogging Nigeria and seizing automatic qualification.
Mozambique earned a 1-0 victory.
The Nigerian Football Federation has dismissed all claims. General Secretary Musa Amuda has threatened Perumal with legal action should his book impugn the image of Nigerian football (h/t to Goal). "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," he added.
"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."
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