World Cup 2014: Match-fixer denies predicting Cameroon result

The convicted match-fixer at the centre of allegations surrounding a World Cup game between Cameroon and Croatia has denied predicting the correct result.

German magazine Der Spiegel claimed Wilson Raj Perumal correctly forecast the outcome of the Group A game.

Perumal, a Singapore businessman, said he had made an "an informal assessment of the behaviour of the Cameroon team" after the game.

Der Spiegel insist his comments were made before kick-off.

Der Spiegel told the BBC: "We firmly stand by our assertion, that Mr Perumal wrote in a Facebook chat some hours before the World Cup match Croatia v Cameroon, that the result of the match will be a 4-0-victory for Croatia and that a player of Cameroon will get a red card in the first half."

Perumal, who was jailed in Finland in 2011 for fixing games, disputes the timing of the conversation and apologised to the Cameroon Football Federation for any inadvertent offence caused.

He said: "The Facebook chat with the Der Spiegel journalist took place a few days after the match. At no time did I suggest I had any way of corroborating or substantiating what was meant to be an educated guess based on my extensive match-fixing experience."

Cameroon lost all their Group A games, including the 4-0 defeat by Croatia in which their midfielder Alex Song was sent off in the 40th minute.

The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), who work with betting regulators, operators and monitoring agencies to look at sport integrity, revealed there was "no observable suspicious betting on this match".

ICSS director Chris Eaton said that since his arrest in 2011, Perumal has "gradually been giving accurate information on global match-fixing. He has also given a great deal of disinformation".

But he said that the seriousness of the case meant it should receive "a swift, strong and, most importantly, an international and co-ordinated investigation".

The allegations of "fraud" by "seven bad apples" are being investigated by the ethics committee of the Cameroon Football Federation.

World governing body Fifa did not comment on whether it was looking into the issue as football's world governing body did not want to "compromise any possible investigations".

Ashley Cole and Samuel Eto'o leave Chelsea after contracts end

Ashley Cole and Samuel Eto'o have been released by Chelsea. 

The contracts of the former England full-back and the Cameroon striker, both 33, expired on Monday, and neither was offered fresh terms.

"Cole has a very strong claim to be the club's greatest player of all time in his position," read a statement. 
 
"Chelsea thanks Ashley for the fantastic service throughout his eight years here and for helping to bring so many trophies home."

Eto'o departs  having scored 12 goals in his 35 appearances since signing a one-year deal from Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala last August.

Keshi: Nigeria did not renew deal

Stephen Keshi has revealed his time as Nigeria coach ended because his contract was not renewed.

It was widely reported that Keshi resigned after Nigeria were knocked out of the World Cup by France on Monday.

In a statement on the Nigerian Football Federation website,  Keshi said: "I was a bit shocked that the global media said I have quit.

"I told my players it was maybe my last match because my contract ended and I have not been offered a new one."

Keshi added: "Resignations are not done on the pages of newspapers but formally."

The 52-year-old, who became the first Nigerian to lead the side into the second round at a World Cup, is attracting the interest of other countries.

Germany survive Algeria scare

Germany survived a huge test of their World Cup credentials to see off underdogs Algeria in extra time and set up a quarter-final meeting with France. 

The three-time champions lacked urgency throughout the 90 minutes. They frequently looked rattled as an enterprising Algeria wasted a succession of chances in an open, exciting encounter, before Andre Schurrle finished from close range early in the first additional period.

Mesut Ozil drilled in to double their lead and, although Abdelmoumene Djabou volleyed home to ensure a frantic end, a relieved Germany held on and will take on the French in Rio on Friday.

World Cup 2014: Cameroon investigates match-fixing claims

Cameroon officials are to investigate claims that seven of their players were involved in match-fixing at the World Cup in Brazil. 

The ethics committee of the African country's football federation will look at allegations of "fraud" by "seven bad apples" in their three group games.

The allegations have been made in a German news magazine Der Spiegel by a convicted match fixer from Singapore.

Cameroon lost all their Group A games, including a 4-0 defeat by Croatia.

The Indomitable Lions had Alex Song sent off for lashing out at Mario Mandzukic in that game, while team-mates Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Benjamin Moukandjo clashed late on in the game.

A statement from Cameroon's FA read: "Recent allegations of fraud around Cameroon's 2014 Fifa World Cup three preliminary games, especially Cameroon versus Croatia, as well of the 'existence of seven bad apples [in our national team]' do not reflect the values and principles promoted by our administration, in line with Fifa's code of conduct and the ethics of our nation.

"We are strongly committed to employ all means necessary to resolve this disruptive matter in the shortest delays."

Fifa did not comment on whether it was looking into the issue as football's world governing body did not want to "compromise any possible investigations".

It did, however, add: "Speaking generally, the integrity of the game is a top priority for Fifa and as such we take any allegations of match manipulation very seriously."

Cameroon's build up to the tournament in Brazil was marred by the players refusing to board a plane to Brazil until a dispute over bonus payments had been settled.

A financial package was eventually agreed with Cameroon's football federation, Fecafoot, but the squad's journey to the World Cup had been delayed for almost a day.

They started the tournament with a 1-0 defeat by Mexico prior to the loss to Croatia and being beaten 4-1 by hosts Brazil.

"Some players behaved very badly, and that's why we have conceded four goals," Cameroon head coach Volker Finke told French newspaper L'Equipe  after the Croatia defeat.

"I know that it is difficult to play with 10 men, but that is not a reason to lose it to this point.

"The game was balanced until the red card. The Croatians were more clinical in front of goal, but Cameroon also had chances to score.

"The behaviour of some of the players is really not satisfactory. Even when we were 11-a-side, it was not acceptable."

Nigeria coach Keshi resigns after exit

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has stepped down from his position after the Super Eagles' exit from the World Cup in Brazil.

France scored twice in the last 11 minutes in Brasilia on Monday to reach the quarter-finals at their expense.
The 52-year-old was appointed Nigeria boss in 2011 and helped them become African champions two years later.

Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo also retired from international football following their exit.

Fenerbahce's Yobo, 33, scored a late own goal after Paul Pogba's header had broken Nigerian resistance.

Keshi offered his resignation after last year's Africa Cup Of Nations triumph, citing a lack of support and respect, although he was persuaded to stay by Nigeria's sport minister.

A group stage win against Bosnia-Hercegovina helped Nigeria reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since 1998, despite the players being involved in a row over bonuses.

He becomes the sixth manager to leave his job during the World Cup, following the departures of Honduras's Luis Suarez, Iran's Carlos Queiroz, Japan's Alberto Zaccheroni, Italy's Cesare Prandelli and Ivory Coast's Sabri Lamouchi.

Keshi, who captained Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup finals, was previously in charge of Mali and Togo.
Yobo told BBC Sport it was a sad but glorious end to his own international career as Nigeria failed to make their first ever quarter-finals.

"This is it. I can look back on my career with great pride," he said.

"It's time to give a chance to other people to come through. Our football has a bright future and I am confident this team can achieve success sooner rather than later."

Yobo is his country's most capped player with 100 appearances and will continue to play club football.

His 10 matches at World Cup finals - a national record - have come in three tournaments, 2002, 2010 and 2014.

"I wanted to leave on a high for my country. Defeat by France was not the right way to go but I'm happy with all I've done for the national team," he added.

World Cup 2014 Late strikes send France into last eight

France scored twice in the final 11 minutes in Brasilia to beat Nigeria and reach the World Cup quarter-finals. 

Nigeria's Emmanuel Emenike had a strike ruled out for offside before Vincent Enyeama saved Paul Pogba's volley.

Victor Moses cleared Karim Benzema's shot off the line after the break and Yohan Cabaye volleyed against the bar as France pressed.

But Pogba eventually headed in after an Enyeama error and Joseph Yobo diverted Mathieu Valbuena's cross into the net.

France will play Germany, who beat Algeria 2-1 after extra time, in the last eight at the Maracana on Friday.