2014 World Cup: Match fixing reports by 'enviable' English press is meant to distract us - Ghana FA boss Nyantakyi

Published on: 23 June 2014
2014 World Cup: Match fixing reports by 'enviable' English press is meant to distract us - Ghana FA boss Nyantakyi
Ghana FA boss seated in the middle at the press conference

By Ameenu Shardow

Follow on Twitter @alooameenu

Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi believes the recent report of a plot to fix Black Stars matches published by The Telegraph is meant to distract the team from their purpose of progressing at the 2014 World Cup.

The English tabloid claim the GFA President has signed a contract with undercover investigators masquerading as representatives of an investment firm interested in buying the rights of Ghana's friendly matches for one year.

The claimed signed contract, according to The Telegraph, had an embedded subplot to fix the games to be arranged by the investment firm.

But Kwesi Nyantakyi who has already denied the report and lodged official complaints to FIFA, CAF and the Ghana Police is questioning the timing of such a publication.

The GFA President believes it is only an enviable and wicked calculation by the English newspaper to distract the Black Stars from qualifying to the Round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup.

“I think that is the objective of that publication [ to distract the Black Stars],” Nyantakyi told a press conference on Monday.

“That it has to be made just on the heels of our match against Germany.

“But I want to assure you that the publication has no effects on the team.

“I have had a meeting with the players to explain the facts to them.

“We believe this publication is to distract us from our objective.

“It is a very mischievous publication, there is no merit in it and is meant to derail our hard won reputation but we will not fall for such cheap propaganda and mischievous journalism.

“We are not responsible for England's [early] exit from the World Cup.

“And why is it that they [English press] are not targeting European countries where fixing of matches originated?

“Africa is always the target, they only conduct their investigations in Africa.”

Ghana have a slim chance of qualifying from Group G but must beat Portugal in their final group game quite comprehensively and hope USA lose against Germany in the other group fixture which will be played simultaneously in Manaus.

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