World Cup 2014: Sepp Blatter to allow Cameroon officials to investigate claims of match-fixing

Indomitable Lions lost all three of their Group A matches

Cameroon's national football team players (1st row, LtoR) Henry Bedimo, Eyong Enoh, Cedric Djeugoue, Stephane Mbia, Benjamin Moukandjou, (2nd row, LtoR) Nicolas N'koulou, Joel Matip, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Alex Song, Charles Itandje, Samuel Eto'o pose (Getty Images)

The Cameroon football federation has launched an investigation into allegations that some of their players were involved in match-fixing at the World Cup.

Follow the latest news from the World Cup

Cameroon finished bottom of Group A, losing 1-0 to Mexico, 4-0 to Croatia and 4-1 to Brazil. For the second of those games, a convicted match-fixer told the German newspaper Der Spiegel he knew beforehand that they would lose 4-0 and that a player would be sent off, both of which happened.

Fecafoot (Federation Camerounaise de Football) issued a statement yesterday, saying that an internal investigation was already under way.

“Recent allegations of fraud around Cameroon’s 2014 Fifa World Cup three preliminary games, especially Cameroon vs. 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 Code of Conduct and the ethics of our nation,” read the statement.

“We wish to inform the general public that, though not yet contacted by Fifa in regards to this affair, our administration has already instructed its Ethics Committee, to further investigate these accusations.”

Fifa would not comment other than to say “the integrity of the game is a top priority”.

The Croatia game was a particularly poor and disjointed performance from Cameroon. Alex Song’s red card, for an off-the-ball elbow in Mario Mandzukic’s back in the first half, was notably needless and left-back Benoît Assou-Ekotto nearly came to blows with team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo in the final minutes.

Cameroon coach Volker Finke bemoaned his players’ behaviour after the defeat. “Some players behaved very badly, and that’s why we have conceded four goals,” he told L’Equipe at the time. “The behaviour of some of the players is really not satisfactory.”