FIFA statement on CSL match-fixing allegations By Steven Sandor Posted on September 18, 2012 1 0 850 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter As part of a piece I am working on for the next issue of Inside Soccer, I went to FIFA, asking if — as the CSL Chairman Vincent Ursini claimed last year — soccer’s world governing body is still looking into allegations that match fixers targeted a 2009 CSL league game between the Trois-Rivieres Attak and Toronto Croatia. The Attak won that match by a 4-1 count. Those suspicions surfaced out of German trial evidence in 2011. And, an excellent CBC documentary aired last week (and follow-up at CSN) has put CSL and match-fixing allegations back in the spotlight. But the league maintains that it must defer to FIFA and not comment directly about the match in question. Here is a portion of the written statement we received from FIFA. The rest can be found HERE. “As with many different forms of cases that FIFA may be involved in, whether they be related to disciplinary issues, match-fixing, or other forms of legal disputes, we are not able to provide large amounts of detail prior to their respective conclusion. The topic you refer to has been discussed between FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association.” So, FIFA has confirmed it knows about the game, it has discussed the game with the CSA, but it can’t really comment. But, at least, FIFA’s acknowledgment that its process hasn’t reached its conclusion corroborates the CSL’s claims that the issue was referred to soccer’s governing body a year ago. Now, we have to keep our eyes on FIFA to ensure that it follows through.
