The World Cup goes from strength to strength in terms of entertainment with the USA and Portugal producing another cliff hanger into the small hours of this morning.
By the time Ronaldo’s injury time cross had been headed home however, the Monday edition of the Daily Telegraph had hit the streets and the internet revealing another match fixing scandal involving the highest levels of authority within the Football Association of Ghana.
The country’s team had drawn 2-2 with Germany in the same group on Saturday but the allegations now are that officials had been plotting with international criminals to stage matched the results of which would be determined in advance and by the judicious appointment of corrupt match officials.
Further allegations have been promised in a Dispatches documentary on Channel 4 in the UK tonight. The programme runs at 7.30pm though it will attract only a small fraction of those drawn to the game at 8pm featuring host nation Brazil as they bid to confirm qualification from the group stage.
Guilty
Earlier this month three individuals were found guilty of match fixing in England, the first such prosecutions to have been successfully concluded.
One of the FIFA advertisements throughout TV coverage of the tournament has been about the vigilance that is needed in order to ensure the integrity of the games.
Last month the English FA passed a rule prohibiting any players, management or officials in the top eight divisions of the game from betting on any soccer match worldwide, extending a prohibition that had previously run to matches or tournaments they were involved in.
Sport for Business wrote about the potential long term impact of this move last month.
This morning’s and tonight’s revelations will hardly cause a ripple in fans collective consciousness as the World Cup continues to deliver such entertainment but they will be carefully considered long after the trophy is lifted on July 13th.
You can read the Daily Telegraph allegations here.
