Match-fixing in futbol has gotten out of control. Now FIFA is investigating Argentina’s 4-1 loss in Nigeria. According to sources the betting patterns tipped off officials that the game coudl have been fixed.
Sources also say that the referees may have been involved. Referee Ibrahim Chaibou of Niger awarded two penalties – one of them a handball that negated a goal – in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time. Television replays suggested there was no handball offense by Nigeria as Chaibou indicated.
ESPN.com is reporting:
Argentina got on the scoreboard eight minutes into injury time – only five having been signalled – when Joseph Yobo was penalised for a handball by referee Ibrahim Chaibou of Niger, and Mauro Boselli scored from the penalty spot.
It is claimed a high number of bets were placed for there to be another goal with the score at 4-0.
This is most likely the highest profile match to be investigated for match-fixing in FIFA’s history.
FIFA announced that Wednesday’s match in Lagos “was one that we had an active interest in, and forms part of a wider ongoing FIFA investigation.”
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