Fifa 'evaluating' Ghana match-fixing allegations

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4 Year Old 11 years ago

I hope this is not true otherwise it's going to be very shameful to Kwasi Nyantakyi

I hope this is not true otherwise it's going to be very shameful to Kwasi Nyantakyi
Odiasembone 11 years ago

Investigate this and all other fixtures, including the BS training/friendlies scheduled in USA. Abdul Waris is out- investigate.lol Also, investigate the allegations of Germany/US fixture. My name is Osagyefo and I'm interest ...
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Investigate this and all other fixtures, including the BS training/friendlies scheduled in USA. Abdul Waris is out- investigate.lol Also, investigate the allegations of Germany/US fixture. My name is Osagyefo and I'm interested in all, by order!
Whatever 11 years ago

If they've bombed out of the world cup, is it Ghana's fault? Ghana has done no such thing as fxing matches, there's no facts supporting the claim. This is a deliberate British Strategy to hide their failings at the ongoing FI ...
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If they've bombed out of the world cup, is it Ghana's fault? Ghana has done no such thing as fxing matches, there's no facts supporting the claim. This is a deliberate British Strategy to hide their failings at the ongoing FIFA World cup
Ghfuo, 30seconds WC blunder! 11 years ago

Really! Wake up and smell the coffee.

Really! Wake up and smell the coffee.
Mea 11 years ago

Kwasea with a slave mentality who is all too willing to accept any trash from a deranged white man

Kwasea with a slave mentality who is all too willing to accept any trash from a deranged white man
Soweto- London 11 years ago

Lets face fact, I just watched the dispatches programme on TV and those two guys Christopher and Nketiah should be banned from going near Ghana football or Stadiums for life where as Nyantakyi should be dismissed outright. Hi ...
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Lets face fact, I just watched the dispatches programme on TV and those two guys Christopher and Nketiah should be banned from going near Ghana football or Stadiums for life where as Nyantakyi should be dismissed outright. His position should be given to someone professional who has already made his name in football eg Desailly or Tony Baffoe. Nyantakyi wasn't professional at all in his dealings with the dispatch team. The worse he could have done was to arrange the meeting officially in his office after the world cup and not in the garden of the hotel of the black stars camp; it made it suspicious. Any professional FA wouldn't do that. He knew what was going on and had a hand in it. This is no forgery. He was on the secret video and spoke about awarding the contract to the thieves with camera. He should have recalled what Anas is doing to people in Ghana. Christopher and Obed Nketsia should be banned from Ghana football. This tells that he has been fixing matches for his team in the local league as he spoke with confidence about the way they will approach the referee. This same people come out to condemn Ghanaian referees. Sack the trio. God bless us all and God bless our homeland Ghana.
moyo 11 years ago

The disgrace GFA President should resign now and FIFA should fire all of them.

The disgrace GFA President should resign now and FIFA should fire all of them.
Maame Yaa 11 years ago

There is a video about the discussion between the two parties and the GFA prez was speaking to the mach fixer. This is really an humilation to the GFA. LAST 4 yrs it was bribing of a referee to make sure that Ghana wins that ...
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There is a video about the discussion between the two parties and the GFA prez was speaking to the mach fixer. This is really an humilation to the GFA. LAST 4 yrs it was bribing of a referee to make sure that Ghana wins that much n now see what we hearing n also watching it live. For how long has this being going on?
peeeeeee 11 years ago

Match fixing not mach,much

Match fixing not mach,much
Conqueror 11 years ago

Ghana fixed the matches between them and Germany and the USA because of Klinsman.

Ghana fixed the matches between them and Germany and the USA because of Klinsman.

Osei 11 years ago

Wow, we are rather getting better, NDC!

Wow, we are rather getting better, NDC!
Ghfuo, heaven is not for fools! 11 years ago

Our local soccer leagues are corrupt. Bribery is rife. Refs claim bribes to sway decision in favor or other clubs. The fact disciplinary cmtee just turns a blindly eye. Look at how many refs have been killed and injured in gh ...
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Our local soccer leagues are corrupt. Bribery is rife. Refs claim bribes to sway decision in favor or other clubs. The fact disciplinary cmtee just turns a blindly eye. Look at how many refs have been killed and injured in gh? Players are influenced. When our top clubs go to africa they lose. Even at afcon, nyantakyi is fixing games to favorite n make his elementary coach aa look good,.so they can continue to rule and steal. Best players are left out off national teams becos the same gfa heads demand bribes before selection. Who does this in this day of modernity? Fifa says no govt interference in soccer.thks time, we want a full investigative report from fifa on the actions of our favorite, especially. Corruption filled nyantakyi. Speak to the local clubs who have been banned, denied points. Etc in gh and they will give you the fillable on how nyantakyi is ruining gh soccer. Get him out and jail him, fine him and let him pay back some of the money he has stolen. So we can use that build soccer infrastructure in gh.
Ghfuo, 30seconds WC blunder! 11 years ago

Too much bribery and corruption in Ghana, any?

Too much bribery and corruption in Ghana, any?
New York Times, May 31, 2014 11 years ago

JOHANNESBURG — A soccer referee named Ibrahim Chaibou walked into a bank in a small South African city carrying a bag filled with as much as $100,000 in $100 bills, according to another referee traveling with him.

The d ...
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JOHANNESBURG — A soccer referee named Ibrahim Chaibou walked into a bank in a small South African city carrying a bag filled with as much as $100,000 in $100 bills, according to another referee traveling with him.

The deposit was so large that a bank employee gave Mr. Chaibou a gift of commemorative coins bearing the likeness of Nelson Mandela.

Later that night in May 2010, Mr. Chaibou refereed an exhibition match between South Africa and Guatemala in preparation for the World Cup, the world’s most popular sporting event.

Even to the casual fan, his calls were suspicious — he called two penalties for hand balls even though the ball went nowhere near the players’ hands.

Mr. Chaibou, a native of Niger, had been chosen to work the match by a company based in Singapore that was a front for a notorious match-rigging syndicate, according to an internal, confidential report by FIFA, soccer’s world governing body.

A 2011 tournament in Antalya, Turkey, organized by the match-fixing syndicate, had near-empty stadiums.

Inside the Fixing: How a Gang Battered Soccer’s Frail Integrity JUNE 1, 2014:

FIFA’s investigative report and related documents, which were obtained by The New York Times and have not been publicly released, raise serious questions about the vulnerability of the World Cup to match fixing. The tournament opens June 12 in Brazil.

The report found that the match-rigging syndicate and its referees infiltrated the upper reaches of global soccer in order to fix exhibition matches and exploit them for betting purposes.

It provides extensive details of the clever and brazen ways that fixers apparently manipulated “at least five matches and possibly more” in South Africa ahead of the last World Cup.

As many as 15 matches were targets, including a game between the United States and Australia, according to interviews and emails printed in the FIFA report.

Although corruption has vexed soccer for years, the South Africa case gives an unusually detailed look at the ease with which professional gamblers can fix matches, as well as the governing body’s severe problems in policing itself and its member federations.

The report, at 44 pages, includes an account of Mr. Chaibou’s trip to the bank, as well as many other scenes describing how matches were apparently rigged.

After one match, the syndicate even made a death threat against the official who tried to stop the fix, investigators found.

“Were the listed matches fixed?” the report said. “On the balance of probabilities, yes!”

The Times investigated the South African match-fixing scandal by interviewing dozens of soccer officials, referees, gamblers, investigators and experts in South Africa, Malaysia, England, Finland and Singapore.

The Times also reviewed hundreds of pages of interview transcripts, emails, referee rosters and other confidential FIFA documents.

FIFA, which is expected to collect about $4 billion in revenue for this four-year World Cup cycle for broadcast fees, sponsorship deals and ticket sales, has relative autonomy at its headquarters in Zurich. But The Times found problems that could now shadow this month’s World Cup.
ekomdeboy 11 years ago

What is the relationship between gfa and allege criminals? Have they ever negotiate any black stars game? How did the media able to contact them directly? Is the alleged amount enough for everyone involved?

What is the relationship between gfa and allege criminals? Have they ever negotiate any black stars game? How did the media able to contact them directly? Is the alleged amount enough for everyone involved?
Ghfuo, heaven is not for fools! 11 years ago

Obed nketiah is a senior member within the gfa. Nuff said! If a senior member is doing this. Then the whole bag of nuts is rotten!

Obed nketiah is a senior member within the gfa. Nuff said! If a senior member is doing this. Then the whole bag of nuts is rotten!
Ghfuo, 30seconds WC blunder! 11 years ago

Heaven is really NOT for pride of pool polio pools.

Heaven is really NOT for pride of pool polio pools.
Ghfuo, 30seconds WC blunder! 11 years ago

Heaven is really NOT for pride-fooooooools, like these gfa staff.

Heaven is really NOT for pride-fooooooools, like these gfa staff.
DISCIPLINE HOLLAND 11 years ago

ANIMGUASEE GFA,CRIMINALS GHANA SPORTS COUNCIL AABA.

ANIMGUASEE GFA,CRIMINALS GHANA SPORTS COUNCIL AABA.
ASAMOAH 11 years ago

Everybody eat and sleep corruption in Ghana.Very corrupt and polluted people.That is why they are crying that USA and Germany will fix their final match.They know what they are capable of doing if they were in these two count ...
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Everybody eat and sleep corruption in Ghana.Very corrupt and polluted people.That is why they are crying that USA and Germany will fix their final match.They know what they are capable of doing if they were in these two countries's shoes.Is Ghana or their groupd the only people playing the world cup?Watch them carefully.

JP 11 years ago

The president of the Ghana Football Association has denied agreeing for the national team to play in matches that others were preparing to fix.

An undercover investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches and The Telegraph ide ...
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The president of the Ghana Football Association has denied agreeing for the national team to play in matches that others were preparing to fix.

An undercover investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches and The Telegraph identified two people, one a licensed FIFA agent and the other a Ghana club official, who said they could fix friendly matches involving the national side, who are currently involved in the World Cup, for £100,000.

The report claimed that GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi had agreed for Ghana to play in two proposed matches after the World Cup, but he has denied that in an interview with the BBC World Service

'The contents of the publication are not wholly true.' Nyantakyi told the Newsday programme. 'I was sent a press enquiry from the newspaper and I provided a full account of what transpired. It's unfortunate that they did not report fully what I told them.

'First of all I have not agreed to any match-fixing deal involving the FA. I was given a draft contract which I indicated to their agent that I hadn't read and I also had some issues with it and so it will be premature for anybody to say the FA is at fault.'

The Telegraph reported that, during a meeting with an undercover reporter, Nyantakyi had said he was happy with a proposed contract for two friendly matches which would have seen match officials appointed by a bogus investment firm, a breach of FIFA rules.

But Nyantakyi said he did not read the contract and only submitted it to the GFA's lawyers to see if it was worth pursuing.

'I didn't read it at all... I did not read the contract at all,' he said. 'They told me it was an investment company that was interested in buying the rights to our matches and that the matches will be organised by a FIFA match agent...

'When the draft contract was submitted to me it was forwarded to the lawyers to look at it because we need to know their position before we can sign. If they say okay, I read it to satisfy myself that all is okay. But I cannot read it and decide on my own to sign without the OK from the lawyer and the committee.'

When news of the investigation first broke on Sunday night, the GFA issued a statement saying it had called in the police to investigate two people for misrepresentation.

A statement from the GFA said: 'The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has requested the Ghana Police Service to investigate two persons for misrepresenting the GFA with an attempt to defraud.

'The two were also allegedly filmed claiming that they would bribe GFA officials to ensure that the contract is signed.

'We wish to state that the GFA did not sign the contract as we waited for the response from the legal committee and that the two gentlemen did not make such corrupt offers to the GFA or its officials. "We wish to assure the public that we will not tolerate such misrepresentations and we will seek strong sanctions against such individuals if such claims are found to be true.'

Ghana's hopes of progressing to the knock-out stages of the World Cup are still alive after Portugal's stoppage-time equaliser against the United States on Sunday night left everything to play for in Group G.

But Nyantakyi claimed the fixing scandal had been deliberately timed to hurt his country at the World Cup.

'It is a well-orchestrated plan to punish the hard-won reputation of the Ghanaian FA and also to try and devalue the participation of the country at the World Cup and it's not acceptable at all,' he said
A GHANAIAN 11 years ago

FOLKS, let's be careful as FIFA itself may take advantage of this situation and ignore a highly imminent USA-Germany drawn game match fixing to ensure both teams qualify.

FOLKS, let's be careful as FIFA itself may take advantage of this situation and ignore a highly imminent USA-Germany drawn game match fixing to ensure both teams qualify.
TRUTH HURTS 11 years ago

www.tvcatchup.com

WATCH THE PROGRAM NOW

www.tvcatchup.com

WATCH THE PROGRAM NOW
TRUTH HURTS 11 years ago

www.tvcatchup.com

WATCH THE PROGRAM NOW!

www.tvcatchup.com

WATCH THE PROGRAM NOW!
TRUTH HURTS 11 years ago

www.tvcatchup.com

WATCH THE PROGRAM NOW!!!!

www.tvcatchup.com

WATCH THE PROGRAM NOW!!!!
TKG 11 years ago

Watch channel 4 documentary. Very shameful

Watch channel 4 documentary. Very shameful
gabby 11 years ago

very very shameful for the GFA, esp Kwasi Nyantakyi, for him to even think of it and request for the proposal. Oh my God Mother Ghana. People are suffering working hard to pay tax whiles people at the helm of affairs using th ...
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very very shameful for the GFA, esp Kwasi Nyantakyi, for him to even think of it and request for the proposal. Oh my God Mother Ghana. People are suffering working hard to pay tax whiles people at the helm of affairs using their power to do whatever. Watch it now in channel 4 UK
falarry 11 years ago

I saw it on channel 4 dispatches this evening, and the two guys from ghana gfa that flow from maimi to london to get 30k couldn't explain themself when confronted by c 4 crew.

I saw it on channel 4 dispatches this evening, and the two guys from ghana gfa that flow from maimi to london to get 30k couldn't explain themself when confronted by c 4 crew.
Mea 11 years ago

You are so stupid not to know that news organizations can twist their stories to suit their aims.

You are so stupid not to know that news organizations can twist their stories to suit their aims.
DIAMOND 11 years ago

Mea, did the organizations twist Nyantakyi and his disciples mouths to say they were open to fixing "trial matches" and paying off referees because "football is money"?

How many of Ghana's friendlies has he sacrificed sinc ...
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Mea, did the organizations twist Nyantakyi and his disciples mouths to say they were open to fixing "trial matches" and paying off referees because "football is money"?

How many of Ghana's friendlies has he sacrificed since he took office in 2005?

Some of the "losses" we've endured from these countries - Zambia, Burkina, Liberia, Japan, South Korea (before Miami), Egypt (return match) Montenegro and Holland - might not have been authentic losses at all.

It's not even as much about what he says on tape per se as it is about our leaders' priorities, about why we never seem to be making any progress as a nation.

How many shekels of silver did he get for his betrayal?

GHANA 11 years ago

it is there to see oh My God Kwasi Nyantakyi

it is there to see oh My God Kwasi Nyantakyi
sam. 11 years ago

I just watched the investigation on channel 4 and i can say from what i watched that Nyantakyi was not aware of any fraud but as an FA CHAIRMAN who has THE INTEREST of Ghana football at heart,he will try and get contract for ...
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I just watched the investigation on channel 4 and i can say from what i watched that Nyantakyi was not aware of any fraud but as an FA CHAIRMAN who has THE INTEREST of Ghana football at heart,he will try and get contract for the national team so that the can play friendly matches.It was Nketia and Forsyte who were trying to put the contract through for the bougus company.Nyantakye boldly said he has received the proposal from the company and has forwarded it to the legal team of the FA to assess it then they will take it from there.I can say that Nyantakyi did not ask them for any money.
Gabby U.K 11 years ago

Nyantakyi was able of the draft contract according to the report and shouldn't had even entertain this at the first place and it was for his interest not ghana interest. Watch the report again when they call him on skype and ...
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Nyantakyi was able of the draft contract according to the report and shouldn't had even entertain this at the first place and it was for his interest not ghana interest. Watch the report again when they call him on skype and also when they met him in Brazil during the Ghana training ground. Don't joke with U.K reports, everything is documented. Shame on GFA Kwasi
Mohammed Awuni 11 years ago

Nyantakyi should not have entertained any of this. Even the fact that he knew what was going on and did not report it means he should resign

Nyantakyi should not have entertained any of this. Even the fact that he knew what was going on and did not report it means he should resign
Mea 11 years ago

Did you read GFA's response yesterday that Nyantakyi referred the matter to GFA's legal division?

Did you read GFA's response yesterday that Nyantakyi referred the matter to GFA's legal division?
peeeeeee 11 years ago

It looks like they were trying to get him to ask for money.he didn't even say that he knew the matches were going to be fixed.he was only vying for friendly matches.the 2 boys are maybe using his name deceptively..in the end ...
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It looks like they were trying to get him to ask for money.he didn't even say that he knew the matches were going to be fixed.he was only vying for friendly matches.the 2 boys are maybe using his name deceptively..in the end the commentator only said Nyan had agreed to a match sponsored by a 3rd party which was illegal...so either Nyan was being clever on tape or didn't know the deal..
Kofi Sammy 11 years ago

TV3 6 OCLOCK NEWS TODAY has mentioned that the Ghana Police SErvice,contrary to claims by Nyantekyi, HAS NOT received any report from Nyantekyi or the GFA.
Heres a guy threatening to sue the TELEGRAPH.
Empty threats and boa ...
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TV3 6 OCLOCK NEWS TODAY has mentioned that the Ghana Police SErvice,contrary to claims by Nyantekyi, HAS NOT received any report from Nyantekyi or the GFA.
Heres a guy threatening to sue the TELEGRAPH.
Empty threats and boasts
Seth Duku Uk 11 years ago

Watching the channel Four set up scheme of GFA fixing match between Ghana and USA carefully, it appears that Mr Nketia knew all about the arrangements. However The GFA president acted tactfully even if he knew about the bribe ...
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Watching the channel Four set up scheme of GFA fixing match between Ghana and USA carefully, it appears that Mr Nketia knew all about the arrangements. However The GFA president acted tactfully even if he knew about the bribery. This shows how corruption is deeply endemic and enrooted in the Ghanaian society. We need to look at ourselves and make a change now. Shame to Our entrusted leaders, who for selfish interest and greediness flout their august office.
Gabbs 11 years ago

Kwesi is a Smat guy. we need people like him to run the country. The Forsyth guy is very stupid. He is really stupid. Bravo to Kwesi he acted really good and professionally

Kwesi is a Smat guy. we need people like him to run the country. The Forsyth guy is very stupid. He is really stupid. Bravo to Kwesi he acted really good and professionally
KOFI 11 years ago

THIS A PLOY TO DISTRACT THE ATTENTION FROM WHAT GERMANY WILL DO FOR USA. THEY DID THE SAME THING IN 1982 AND KICK ALGERIA OUT!!DISGRACEFUL!! OUR MINISTER COLLECTING HUGE SUM ARE NOT SMART TO SEE THROUGH THIS. AFRIYE ANKRAH A ...
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THIS A PLOY TO DISTRACT THE ATTENTION FROM WHAT GERMANY WILL DO FOR USA. THEY DID THE SAME THING IN 1982 AND KICK ALGERIA OUT!!DISGRACEFUL!! OUR MINISTER COLLECTING HUGE SUM ARE NOT SMART TO SEE THROUGH THIS. AFRIYE ANKRAH AND THE FUKEN LOT SHOULD BE ON PSYCOLOGICL WAR FARE ACUSSING USA OF INFLUENICING THE GERMANY COACH AFTERALL THEY ARE FRIENDS. WE SAW HOW KLINMAN PUT ATTEMPTED TO PUT PRESSURE ON GHANA TEAM BY MAKING PRESS STATEMENT AND ALL THAT. SOME TEAM ARE CLUELESS INSTEAD THEY RESPONDING TO FIFA AND MAKING FUKEN THREATS. THEY SHOULD BE ACCUSING USA AND GERMANY OF INTENDING TO FIX THE MATCH!! FUCKEN NAIVE AFRICANS
SUAME MAGAZINE 11 years ago

Read the article well. It says the GFA has reported. Nyantakyi is the GFA. He is not going to report himself. Also, they say two of their senior members. There were three people involved. The two GFA executives plus Nya ...
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Read the article well. It says the GFA has reported. Nyantakyi is the GFA. He is not going to report himself. Also, they say two of their senior members. There were three people involved. The two GFA executives plus Nyantakyi. So thy have reported the two, not Nyantakyi.
Whatever. 11 years ago

well if u don't go to heaven don't blame Jesus. western media always look for soft targets. Football fixing case's have also happen in the U.K. in the recent month's ago, so they should leave Ghana alone and to play their com ...
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well if u don't go to heaven don't blame Jesus. western media always look for soft targets. Football fixing case's have also happen in the U.K. in the recent month's ago, so they should leave Ghana alone and to play their competition in Peace.
GFA IS SHIT 11 years ago

It is time to bring the corrupt dictator and his henchmen to justice. Time to sack them.

It is time to bring the corrupt dictator and his henchmen to justice. Time to sack them.
Kwabena Minnesota 11 years ago

The Ghana USA match was fixed. Ask Akwasi Appiah which bank account the money was paid into

The Ghana USA match was fixed. Ask Akwasi Appiah which bank account the money was paid into
LEZY-LONDON 11 years ago

?After? watching the full 1 hour undercover video, I can 100% say the Ghana Football Association President
They just finished showing the full programme here in UK, and I watched from purely neutral stands.
Mr Nyantakyi is ...
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?After? watching the full 1 hour undercover video, I can 100% say the Ghana Football Association President
They just finished showing the full programme here in UK, and I watched from purely neutral stands.
Mr Nyantakyi is innocent and never intended fixing any match. He acted diligently.However, Agent Christopher Forsythe & Brekum Chelsea CEO Obed Nketiah did indeed agree with the reporters for fixing future Blackstars matches.?#?GOGHANA?
KHOPIA 11 years ago

i watched it too, massa, and maybe you and i watched two different programmes.

i watched it too, massa, and maybe you and i watched two different programmes.
Mohammed Awuni 11 years ago

Please don't take him serious

we all watched it and Nyantakyi should resign

Please don't take him serious

we all watched it and Nyantakyi should resign
peeeeeee 11 years ago

You are right

You are right
AMARIYA 11 years ago

This attempted match-fixing is coming a time when officials of FIFA must rather prevent the American German coach and the Germanany's coach from fixing their impending match to a draw game.

Infact, this is very worrying. ...
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This attempted match-fixing is coming a time when officials of FIFA must rather prevent the American German coach and the Germanany's coach from fixing their impending match to a draw game.

Infact, this is very worrying. Germany did to Algeria in the 70's, when, they fixed a world cup with Austria, at the same level we are now.
KHOPIA 11 years ago

The truth remains, o...we spit on it or not in the name of party politics, greed, tribe or ignorance.

The truth remains, o...we spit on it or not in the name of party politics, greed, tribe or ignorance.
Dickson Kwaarkoh 11 years ago

Those involve must be braught to book.

Those involve must be braught to book.
panorama 11 years ago

I am literally watching Channel 4's programme on the match fixing scandal involving the GFA. I cannot believe my eyes.
Forsythe & Nketia have to go and sanctioned at the very least. Nyantakyi has to go - he's lost my trust.. ...
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I am literally watching Channel 4's programme on the match fixing scandal involving the GFA. I cannot believe my eyes.
Forsythe & Nketia have to go and sanctioned at the very least. Nyantakyi has to go - he's lost my trust.. oow Kwesi?
We all know corruption is all over behind the scenes at all levels.. but to have it displayed to you on national television in this manner is quite something.. whaaaaat. Who knows what other arrangements these guys make on Ghana's matches.

I have to re-iterate this was totally disappointing.. asking for money to be hidden in envelopes etc. Their reaction when the investigative journalists confronted says it all.
Kwabena 11 years ago

My goodness if anyone believes this nonsense then you have a big problem.If the FA is spending millions of dollars for us to be at the WC, sell games, for this amount of money. Asamoah Gyan makes more than that in a week. Rub ...
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My goodness if anyone believes this nonsense then you have a big problem.If the FA is spending millions of dollars for us to be at the WC, sell games, for this amount of money. Asamoah Gyan makes more than that in a week. Rubbish
Tenta121 11 years ago

You have a big problem, stop living in denial. It is happening. The only consolation is, the Black Stars players don't seem to be aware of the intended rigging or part of the plot. I don't think the programme was a propaganda ...
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You have a big problem, stop living in denial. It is happening. The only consolation is, the Black Stars players don't seem to be aware of the intended rigging or part of the plot. I don't think the programme was a propaganda against Ghana. Officials from other countries have been ousted before . With huge gambling on football in China this is just the tip of the iceberg
mam gana 11 years ago

JUST TO DESTRUCT THE BOYS. THIS IS OUR WORLD CUP IF WE COME OUT OF THIS GROUP WE WILL WIN THE CUP MARK MY WORD.

JUST TO DESTRUCT THE BOYS. THIS IS OUR WORLD CUP IF WE COME OUT OF THIS GROUP WE WILL WIN THE CUP MARK MY WORD.
Kwesi Nyantekyi 11 years ago

This no surprise at all. Thsi is what happens in Ghana.

This no surprise at all. Thsi is what happens in Ghana.
Antiochus - London 11 years ago

FIFA should start kicking arses!

FIFA should start kicking arses!
Kwame(USA) 11 years ago

This country called Ghana will surely surpass Sodom and Gomorrah someday if it continues like this.

This country called Ghana will surely surpass Sodom and Gomorrah someday if it continues like this.
sayoo 11 years ago

I have been telling you folks this stupid Ashanti bele man has been cheating the league cup for kotoko to appease his Ashanti tribal base...idiot

I have been telling you folks this stupid Ashanti bele man has been cheating the league cup for kotoko to appease his Ashanti tribal base...idiot
THE GUARDIAN, June 12, 2010 11 years ago

The day in 1982 when the world wept for Algeria

In the 1982 World Cup in Spain Algeria shone – before being sent home by one of the most cynical ploys ever to disfigure the competition.

It was the best of times, it wa ...
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The day in 1982 when the world wept for Algeria

In the 1982 World Cup in Spain Algeria shone – before being sent home by one of the most cynical ploys ever to disfigure the competition.

It was the best of times, it was one of the worst of footballing crimes. On their first appearance at the World Cup, Algeria made an impact that changed the tournament forever.

They produced one of the most exhilarating performances to defeat one of the favourites, West Germany, but were then sabotaged by one of sport's most blatant cases of match-fixing.

The 1982 World Cup had opened with a surprise, the holders Argentina losing 1-0 to Belgium, but a far bigger shock was to follow. In the first match of Group 2, the mighty West Germany would surely crush the unknown novices from Algeria. That, at any rate, was the German attitude.

The reigning European champions had stomped imperiously into the finals, winning all eight qualifiers with a goals for-against record of 33-3.

They had a constellation of stars in their squad – Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Uli Stielike and so on – and were so certain of victory over Algeria that they entertained themselves in the pre-match press conferences by ridiculing their opponents.

"We will dedicate our seventh goal to our wives, and the eighth to our dogs," quipped one player, while the manager, Jupp Derwall, promised that if his team contrived to lose he would "jump on the first train back to Munich".

"One player even said that he would play against us with a cigar in his mouth," recalls Algeria's full-back Chaabane Merzekane, who, as it transpired, was made man of the match.

"Some of us wondered if this was just a psychological ploy, whether they were only saying these things to lull us into thinking that they weren't going to take us seriously – after all, who has ever heard of a German team that doesn't do its homework?"

The thing was, this German team really had not done their homework. Derwall confessed after the match that he had been provided with a video of Algeria in action but did not order the players to watch it because they would have laughed at him.

Chances are that if they had bothered to view the tape, they would not have spent the build-up cracking jokes. Because they would have been forewarned about a team that had qualified by winning home and away against Nigeria, and prepared for the finals with impressive friendly wins over the Republic of Ireland, Real Madrid and Benfica.

The Germans might also have noticed that, apart from their skill and speed, Algeria played with formidable fluency and a rare dynamism, the fruit both of the players' familiarity with each other – all had been playing together for years and most were based at home, Algerian law at the time prohibiting players from leaving the country before the age of 28 – and of an energising sense of historical duty.

These players, after all, were the heirs of those who in 1958 had given up professional careers in France to participate in Algeria's war of independence.

The football team created by Algeria's resistance movement, the Front de Libération Nationale, travelled the world, showcasing Algerian spirit and skill and serving as a powerful propaganda tool in the fight for freedom. When the country finally attained independence in 1962 the FLN team composed the core of the new national side.

"Because of this history, the bond between the Algerian national team and our people is uniquely strong and we took the comments by the Germans before the game as a slur on our population," the striker Lakhdar Belloumi says, pointing out that several former FLN players were part of the coaching staff in 1982, including Abdelhamid Zouba and the co-manager Rachid Mekloufi.

"We had our parents at home, but we players also considered that we had our parents with us at pitch-side," Belloumi explains.

"Those guys from the FLN were like our second fathers – in their day they abandoned fame and fortune to fight for their country and we were carrying on that fight.

We were already a tight-knit group, but we were given extra motivation by the Germans, especially as we were very conscious that 1982 was the 20th anniversary of our independence. We were determined to uphold the dignity of our people."

Germany were about to be jolted. "We went out to attack them, to play with our style: Algerian vivacity," Merzekane says, who personified this style more than anyone, forcing Breitner on to the back foot with barnstorming breaks from deep.

"We knew he liked to attack, that he was the best in the world at it, so we set out to exploit that – that was part of our tactical triumph. But we also dominated them technically and physically."

Dominated is an exaggeration, but certainly Algeria were the better team in the first half and deserved their opening goal when it came in the 54th minute, Rabah Madjer finishing off a sweeping break.

Rummenigge equalised in the 67th minute, but if the Germans thought order had been restored, they were wrong. From the restart a nine-pass Algeria move ended with Belloumi arriving unmarked to slam the ball in from close range.

"That was the finest moment of my career," says Belloumi, who after the tournament would receive permission from the Algerian government to accept a transfer to Italy, only for the move to fall through.

"It was the perfect goal, one of the best moves of the whole tournament," says Merzekane. "And after that we didn't hang on, we continued to attack and we could have won by three or four." It finished 2-1.

Merzekane's swashbuckling performance left ITV's commentator Hugh Johns almost breathless with admiration.

"He's one of the discoveries of the World Cup!" gushed Johns, offering an accurate assessment even if it was only the third day of the tournament, and the full-back could have added a goal himself, when in the 88th minute he slalomed from his own box into the German area before being foiled by the goalkeeper Harald Schumacher.

"It was a lung-bursting run and more proof that we were fitter and stronger than the European champions," says Merzekane.

"But that wasn't a surprise to us – in those days there were no visa issues so as teens many of us had travelled and played against Europeans. We knew they were not better than us."

At the final whistle there were raucous celebrations in Gijón's El Molinón stadium and all over Algeria. West Germany was plunged into mourning.

"This feels like the sinking of the Titanic," declared the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Algeria's players resisted the temptation to rub their noses in it.

"We respected the German team and we respected their country, we were just delighted that we had also made them respect ours," says Belloumi.

The euphoria lasted for days and left them drained and, to their cost, a trifle complacent for their next game, against Austria. They lost 2-0.

"That's where we showed our inexperience," says Belloumi. "We should have kept a cool head before that game and probably changed a couple of players but, in fairness to the Austrians, they had studied our style and knew we could be vulnerable on the counterattack."

In contrast to Derwall's wilful ignorance, Austria's manager, Georg Schmidt, had been monitoring Algeria since the Africa Cup of Nations in Libya earlier that year. Fabio Capello, whose England team take on Algeria in Cape Town on Friday, would never make the same mistake as Derwall.

Algeria recovered their vivacity for the final group game against Chile and quickly swept into a 3-0 lead. In a helter-skelter second half the South Americans struck back twice.

"Again we showed our inexperience, we should have seen that match out and preserved our three?goal lead," Belloumi says. Merzekane disagrees.

"Some say we should have stopped attacking but we had come to the World Cup to show the Algerian style and we weren't about to start playing defensively."

The 3-2 victory still meant Algeria would become the first African team to reach the second round unless the group's final game, to be played the following day, ended in a one- or two-goal win for West Germany over Austria, in which case both the European teams would progress at Algeria's expense.

In the 10th minute of that match Horst Hrubesch put the Germans in front. Then … nothing happened.

Realising the scoreline suited both of them, Germany and Austria effectively stopped playing.

In the ensuing 80 minutes there were no shots, and barely any tackles, crosses or sprints. The game was no longer a contest, it was a conspiracy. The teams' cynicism provoked universal scorn.

A smattering of Algerian fans in the Gijón crowd burned peseta notes to show their suspicions of corruption, while most of the Spaniards in attendance waved hankies throughout the second half in a traditional display of disdain.

The next day newspapers in Spain denounced "El Anschluss" and there was outrage in Wst Germany and Austria too. Eberhard Stanjek, commentating for the German channel ARD, almost sobbed during the match as he lamented:

"What is happening here is disgraceful and has nothing to do with football. You can say what you like, but not every end justifies the means."

The Austrian commentator, meanwhile, told viewers to turn off their sets and refused to speak for the last half-hour. Former West German international Willi Schulz branded the German players "gangsters".

The gangsters, however, were unapologetic. When German fans gathered at the team hotel to protest, the players responded by throwing water bombs at them from their balconies.

Even less bothered was the head of the Austrian delegation, Hans Tschak, who made these extraordinary comments:

"Naturally today's game was played tactically. But if 10,000 'sons of the desert' here in the stadium want to trigger a scandal because of this it just goes to show that they have too few schools. Some sheikh comes out of an oasis, is allowed to get a sniff of World Cup air after 300 years and thinks he's entitled to open his gob."

Did the Algerian players take offence? Not at all, Merzekane says. "We weren't angry, we were cool," he says. "To see two big powers debasing themselves in order to eliminate us was a tribute to Algeria. They progressed with dishonour, we went out with our heads held high."

From all over the world came calls for Fifa to punish the Europeans or stage a replay, but in the end all the world's governing body did was rule that henceforth the last pair of games in every group must be played simultaneously.

"Our performances forced Fifa to make that change, and that was even better than a victory," Belloumi says. "It meant that Algeria left an indelible mark on football history."
Soweto London 11 years ago

Lets face fact, I just watched the dispatches programme on TV and those two guys Christopher and Nketiah should be banned from going near Ghana football or Stadiums for life where as Nyantakyi should be dismissed outright. Hi ...
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Lets face fact, I just watched the dispatches programme on TV and those two guys Christopher and Nketiah should be banned from going near Ghana football or Stadiums for life where as Nyantakyi should be dismissed outright. His position should be given to someone professional who has already made his name in football eg Desailly or Tony Baffoe. Nyantakyi wasn't professional at all in his dealings with the dispatch team. The worse he could have done was to arrange the meeting officially in his office after the world cup and not in the garden of the hotel of the black stars camp; it made it suspicious. Any professional FA wouldn't do that. He knew what was going on and had a hand in it. This is no forgery. He was on the secret video and spoke about awarding the contract to the white thieves with camera. He should have recalled what Anas is doing to people in Ghana. Christopher and Obed Nketsia should be banned from Ghana football. This tells that he has been fixing matches for his team in the local league as he spoke with confidence about the way they will approach the referee. This same people come out to condemn Ghanaian referees. Sack the trio. God bless us all and God bless our homeland Ghana.
BOY KOFI 11 years ago

Govt should find out why GFA camped the Black Stars in the United States knowing very well that they are our first opponent in the World Cup.I think something must be wrong somewhere,corruption,match fixing and bribery are no ...
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Govt should find out why GFA camped the Black Stars in the United States knowing very well that they are our first opponent in the World Cup.I think something must be wrong somewhere,corruption,match fixing and bribery are not to be ignored,especially now that we know they had discussion on match fixing with some FIFA staff.Thank you.
KasaHari 11 years ago

If you get caught on tape with 2 of your deputies then something its not right.

He is on tape.....thats a fact

They asked him abt the contract and he said he was content with it....thats a fact

The so called two guys ...
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If you get caught on tape with 2 of your deputies then something its not right.

He is on tape.....thats a fact

They asked him abt the contract and he said he was content with it....thats a fact

The so called two guys are people he knows well.....thats a fact

Where there is smoke....there is fire.

2 possible conclusions:
1) he may have been unaware of what is specified in the contract
2) he knew well what he was doing.

In both cases....he should resign because he has proved to be not competent for the job.

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Fifa 'evaluating' Ghana match-fixing allegations

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