Ghana Starts Legal Action Against Author

FRANCIS KOKUTSE Associated Press

Sep 04, 2008

ACCRA, Ghana - The Ghanaian Football Association has started legal action against the author and publisher of a book alleging the African team threw a match at the 2006 World Cup.

"The Fix," written by Declan Hill, reportedly alleges that Ghana, Ecuador and Ukraine were involved in match-fixing at the tournament in Germany.

The GFA said Thursday it has lodged a complaint with the Ghana Police Service to investigate the accusations, which it described as "criminal in character" and claimed "impugn the sovereign integrity of Ghana."

In an interview Monday in German magazine Der Spiegel, Hill said he believed Ghana's 3-0 loss to Brazil in the second round was fixed.

"Coupled with the huge financial gain and the resulting effect of a win on the respective careers of the our players, there does not appear to be a reasonable basis or motivation to throw away the said match," the Ghanaian federation said.

The federation said it was taking legal action against Hill, publisher Sichere Siege and Der Spiegel.

The Ecuadorean Football Association also rejected the allegations, and federation president Luis Chiriboga called on FIFA to mount "an exhaustive investigation of the allegations so that the good name of Ecuador won't be stained."

Chiriboga added that his association would take legal action after FIFA investigates the claim.

"Today more than ever Ecuador needs to stand with its selection and clearly reject any effort to shake its leadership, technical staff and especially its players," Chiriboga said in a statement.

Sergei Vasiliev, chief of the information department of the Ukrainian football federation, said he had not seen or read the book.

"We do not comment on gossip," Vasiliev said. "We must understand what it all is about. If we see the book, read it and find facts of corruption in it, only then will we take legal actions. We must see the document - only then we may say something."

Hill did not immediately respond to request from The Associated Press seeking comment.

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