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Belize players say they refused bribe to fix match against U.S.
By Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com
July 12, 2013 12:10 pm ET
Two Belize soccer players say they rejected a large bribe to fix Tuesday's match against the U.S., which the Jaguars lost 6-1 anyway.
The Associated Press reports international soccer officials are investigating the allegations by Ian Gaynair and Woodrow West. When an official showed them a photo of a man suspected of match fixing in other countries, the Belize players confirmed it was the same man who approached them Sunday, according to the AP.
Belize coach Ian Mork told the AP that the targeted players, who do not play professionally, were approached at their Portland, Ore., hotel by a man who had also been at their hotel in Guatemala City in June when Belize played Guatemala.
"He was wanting to become friends and come visit Belize," Mork said, via the AP. "Then all of sudden he also showed up in Portland. It was through this kind of friendship of wanting to support the Belize team. It was obviously part of a plan to target our players."
Mork and the players declined to give specifics of the bribery offer, referring questions to CONCACAF, the soccer federation of North and Central American and Caribbean nations. It was unclear if the alleged fixer was seeking a certain goal differential.
Gaynair, a defenseman, scored the only goal for Belize on Tuesday.
Sports
Belize players say they refused bribe to fix match against U.S.
By Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com
July 12, 2013 12:10 pm ET
Two Belize soccer players say they rejected a large bribe to fix Tuesday's match against the U.S., which the Jaguars lost 6-1 anyway.
The Associated Press reports international soccer officials are investigating the allegations by Ian Gaynair and Woodrow West. When an official showed them a photo of a man suspected of match fixing in other countries, the Belize players confirmed it was the same man who approached them Sunday, according to the AP.
Belize coach Ian Mork told the AP that the targeted players, who do not play professionally, were approached at their Portland, Ore., hotel by a man who had also been at their hotel in Guatemala City in June when Belize played Guatemala.
"He was wanting to become friends and come visit Belize," Mork said, via the AP. "Then all of sudden he also showed up in Portland. It was through this kind of friendship of wanting to support the Belize team. It was obviously part of a plan to target our players."
Mork and the players declined to give specifics of the bribery offer, referring questions to CONCACAF, the soccer federation of North and Central American and Caribbean nations. It was unclear if the alleged fixer was seeking a certain goal differential.
Gaynair, a defenseman, scored the only goal for Belize on Tuesday.
