Cameroon to investigate its players over match fixing claims at the 2014 World Cup

At least seven Cameroon players are involved in match fixing claims a fixer from Singapore.

Cameroon Football Association officials will open an investigation after a German news magazine made an allegation that at least seven players in the Cameroon Squad had taken money to throw matches during their campaign in 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Cameroon had a disappointing tournament as they lost all three group games conceding nine goals and scoring just one.

Apart from losing their games, the players were in the news for all wrong reasons after their defender Alex Song was sent off for punching Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic during Cameroon’s 4-0 loss to Croatia. Benoit Assou-Ekkoto and Benjamin Moukandjo also clashed during the later parts of the game.

The team in fact were in the news even before setting their foot in Brazil as they had refused to board the flight to Brazil due to non-payment of bonuses.

But the recent allegation would certainly have shaken Cameroon football officials.

Wilson Raj Perumal, a Singaporean match fixer in an interview with Der Spiegel had correctly predicted the African team losing to Croatia 4-0 and one of their players getting sent-off and said that at least seven players were allegedly involved.

"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,” read a statement from the Cameroon FA.

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

The authorities have certainly taken the allegations seriously as their investigating panel will also have Cameroon president Paul Biya heading the inquiry.

Football’s biggest parenting body FIFA were unavailable for a comment on whether they would assist Cameroon with their investigation as according to them their presence in the matter may compromise the investigation. but they did say that FIFA takes such cases of corruption very seriously.

"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."

Along with Cameroon, Ghana were also in news over a dispute regarding non-payment of bonuses which was eventually sorted out.