Qualifiers free of match-fixing, says FIFA

The first phase of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa has shown no signs of match-fixing, FIFA said.

FIFA issued a statement saying the early warning system set up to monitor gambling on international matches had found "no irregular betting activities during the first phase of the 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary competition.

"It can therefore be concluded that there have been no attempts from betting circles to influence or manipulate approximately 90 matches that have been played since August 2007."

Suspicions of match-fixing were raised last week when UEFA said it had forwarded a dossier containing information on 15 matches to European police.

UEFA said the matches had been brought to their attention because of irregular betting patterns rather than any hard evidence of wrongdoing by any of the clubs involved.

The organisation has begun a disciplinary investigation into one match, an Intertoto Cup game between Bulgarian side Cherno More Varna and Macedonia's Makednija Skopje.

UEFA said Cherno More had been charged with bribery but have so far given no further details.

Cherno More officials have denied the allegations.

Despite the apparent all-clear when it comes to the World Cup qualifiers, FIFA said that it was concerned by the developments at UEFA.

"This is a serious threat to football," FIFA president Sepp Blatter was quoted as saying.

"We have no doubt, however, that UEFA will do everything in its power to resolve the problem.

"FIFA is of course offering a helping hand by making the early warning system available to all confederations and associations."

FIFA said its early warning system had been operational for six months after being tested on matches at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.