World Cup 2006 Matches Fixed, Says Journalist

Journalist Declan Hill has launched an astonishing broadside against the FIFA World Cup of 2006 by claiming that no fewer than four results were fixed. Other comprimised matches have taken place in the Bundesliga, too...

A new book released today, entitled The Fix, explains that an Asian betting syndicate based in Bangkok influenced players from Ghana, Ecuador and Ukraine at the 2006 World Cup.

Among the matches affected were the clashes between Ghana and Italy in the group stages, Ghana and Brazil in the round of 16, and Ukraine versus Italy in the quarter final.

In these three cases the author of the book was told the match results prior to kick-off, and these were proved to be correct.

Stephen Appiah, the Ghana captain, confirmed that he had been targeted by match-fixers, although the team manager has moved to refute such claims.

Meanwhile the Bundesliga was also said to be affected, prompting an investigation in Germany into the allegations.

With the FIFA World Cup already beset by the ticketing scandals that once engulfed Jack Warner, this latest book will be the last thing that Sepp Blatter and company have on their reading lists.

Steve Michaels, Goal.com