Investigations are launched into mystery of bid to fix PSG tie with Red Star
NYON: UEFA and the French authorities have begun inquiries into fears that an attempt may have been made his fix the Champions League tie between Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star Belgrade [Crvena Zvezda].
Several days before PSG’s 6-1 win in the French capital on October 3 the European federation was apparently warned that a senior official of the Serb club was preparing to lay a better that they would lose by at least five goals.
Paris daily L’Equipe reported: “In order to ensure that the match would go according to his plan, Red Star rested several senior players. A particular additional concern for prosecutors and betting investigators is the possible implication of [PSG president] Nasser Al-Khelaïfi in this affair.”
The newspaper said the informant told UEFA that a meeting had been scheduled the day before the match between the fixer and Al-Khelaïfi. Such a meeting never took place.
Both clubs have vehemently denied knowledge of any such corruption attempt with PSG expressing their “great amazement” and “indignation”.
PSG’s full statement said:
It is with the utmost amazement that Paris Saint-Germain has discovered this Friday, the article on the website of L’Equipe raising suspicions of rigging of the match of the Champions League against Red Star of Belgrade, allegedly by punters from Serbia.
The club categorically rejects any direct or indirect involvement in relation to these suspicions and also specifies that at no time was Paris Saint-Germain informed by the National Financial Office in charge of the investigation.
The club reaffirms its deep commitment to the fundamental principle of sport that is and will always be the integrity of competitions.
###############