By Paul Osborne

Allegations of match-fixing have surrounded the Cameroon national football team ©Getty ImagesCameroon officials are set to investigate allegations of fraud inside the national football team after claims "seven bad apples" were involved in match-fixing during the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The country's governing body for football, FECAFOOT, released a statement last night promising it would investigate allegations of fraud around the team's three preliminary games, "especially Cameroon versus Croatia".

"Recent allegations of fraud around Cameroon 2014 FIFA World Cup three preliminary games...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," the statement read.

"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.

"We are strongly committed to employ all means necessary to resolve this disruptive matter in the shortest delays.

"In the meantime we legitimately request that any related information, unless brought before our federation and/or its Ethics Committee, be held for or treated as mere assumption.

"We wish to reinstate that in 55 years of existence, FECAFOOT has never been sanctioned for, involved in, or even linked to match-fixing or any fraud of any kind."

Convicted fraudster Wilson Raj Perumal made the allegations of match-fixing after he accurately forecast the score of the Cameroon versus Croatia game and the fact that a player would be sent off ©Getty ImagesConvicted fraudster Wilson Raj Perumal made the allegations of match-fixing after he accurately forecast the score of the Cameroon versus Croatia game and the fact that a player would be sent off ©Getty Images



The allegations came from convicted Singaporean fraudster and well known match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal, who was detained by police in Finland in April on an international arrest warrant, after he had correctly predicted the score of the Cameroon versus Croatia game and the fact that a player would be ejected from the field, in a discussion with German magazine Der Spiegel.

In that game, Cameroon midfielder Alex Song was sent off before halftime for a needless elbow to the back of Croatia's Mario Mandzukic near the halfway line, leaving his side to battle with 10 men for the majority of the game.

The game was also marred by an incident deep into the second half as Benoit Assou-Ekotto looked like he tried to head-butt team mate Benjamin Moukandjo.

Cameroon eventually went on to loss the fixture 4-0, a result correctly predicted by Perumal, which was one of three loses for the African nation after an opening game 1-0 defeat to Mexico and a 4-1 thrashing by hosts Brazil in their final Group A match.

Allegations of match-fixing are ripe around Perumal after his book, released in April, claims he arranged for players from one team at the Beijing Olympics to ensure their side took the kick-off in two separate matches.

The book also alleges Perumal influenced qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and was involved in the fixing of a number of 2010 FIFA World Cup warm-up friendly matches.

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