Cameroon probes 'seven bad apples' World Cup fix claim

CAMEROON ROCKED BY MATCH-FIXING ALLEGATIONS

Allegations of match-fixing have rocked the World Cup after Cameroon's Football Federation announced it was investigating allegations of "fraud" by "seven bad apples" at the tournament. The Indomitable Lions exited the tournament after losing all three games and finishing bottom of Group A. The probe comes after German newspaper Der Spiegel reported how a convicted fraudster, Wilson Raj Perumal, correctly predicted that Cameroon would lose 4-0 to Croatia and have a man sent off. Cameroon's FA says it is "strongly committed to resolving the matter with the shortest possible delay".

DIFFERENT SIZED BALLS

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Football may be gaining popularity in the US, but it's not going down well with everyone. Last week right-wing columnist Ann Coulter penned a polemic about "soccer", branding the un-American sport's growth as "a sign of the nation's moral decay" and blaming liberals and immigrants for its spread. It sparked a debate on football's future in the US, and many believe the current interest is a passing fad. "America will participate tonight with great gusto. But our balls and theirs will always be different sizes," writes Justin Webb in The Times.

MEHMEDI NOT FUSSED BY MESSI

Swiss striker Admir Mehmedi has shrugged off the threat of Lionel Messi ahead of tonight's last-16 clash in Sao Paulo. "He's exceptional, no question, but with all due respect... he has very good players around him and I think Messi is talked about too much”, said Mehmedi. Yet with four goals in three games – one shy of Maradona's tally at Mexico '86 – many, including the The Independent's Sam Wallace, who disagree. Messi will become "the first immortal of the 21st-century game" if Argentina go all the way, says Wallace.

GERMAN FREE KICK CONFUSION

Confusion surrounds Germany's bizarre free kick routine against Algeria last night, in which Thomas Muller fell over as he ran towards the ball before Toni Kroos tried, and failed, to chip the ball into the Algerian box. Muller became a laughing stock on social media after the apparent slip-up, but one of Muller's team mates, Benedikt Howedes, later claimed the fall was a ruse and it was just the chip that failed to come off. It seems the idea was to confuse Algeria into not marking Muller.

POLICE IN DOCK OVER WORLD CUP TWEETS

Hertfordshire Police are in the dock after attempting to use the World Cup to highlight awareness of crime, reports The Independent. The force's unsubtle efforts did not go down well with some who read the,. In the run up to the second of the last 16 matches the force posted: "Colombia face Uruguay in the FIFA World Cup. To report drug dealing visit..." Another pointed out that Colombia is "world’s largest cocaine producer". A tweet during the Nigeria game against France warned of "scam artists operating in West Africa".