Fifa dismisses fixing allegations

Blatter says Stars are clean

Fifa has dismissed concerns that Ghanaian players were influenced in their second round clash with Brazil at the 2006 World Cup.

The president of football's World governing body Sepp Blatter insists no investigation will be carried out following the allegation by a Canadian journalist.

Declan Hill alleged in his book that Asian bettors influenced the Black Stars and several other countries during the tournament but has since backtracked saying it might have happened.

Blatter says he believes Ghana played competitively throughout the tournament and that Fifa will not act on mere suspicion.

"I say this is impossible: two of the three matches in question were knockout games," Blatter said.

"The World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, even more than the Olympics, no team wants to lose.

"[Journalist Declan] Hill has already made it clear that he never said those matches were fixed, but that there was only a suspicion.

"He made a speculation, but then it was written that he was speaking of facts. That isn't the case."

Fifa only acts on credible evidence with the smoking gun but Declan has since scaled down his accusation saying he only suspect the Black Stars were influenced.

The Black Stars were the only African side to reach the second round of the 2006 World Cup in Germany and lost 3-0 to Brazil.

Meanwhile, Hill's hopes of cashing in on the publication of his book looks to be hitting the buffers following several legal challenges to be launched against him for his allegation.

The Ghana Football Association have hinted they are considering legal action while their counterparts from Ecuador and Italy who were also mentioned in Hill's allegation are also considering a similar action.

Abukari Damba, the former Ghana international who was mentioned in the allegation, has already served the Canadian publishers of the book of his intention to sue the author.