FIFA asks magazine for proof of match-fixing

FIFA expressed "substantial doubts" on Wednesday about a German magazine's claims that a World Cup game could have been fixed and asked the publication to provide evidence to back up its report that a renowned match-fixer accurately predicted details of the match hours before it kicked off.

FIFA said it wants Der Spiegel to provide details of all its conversations with convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal to prove its claim that Cameroon's 4-0 loss to Croatia on June 18 may have been fixed.

"The article has put the integrity of FIFA World Cup matches in question, which is a serious allegation," FIFA director of security Ralf Mutschke said in a statement read out at a briefing at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro by spokeswoman Delia Fischer.