The Ghana Football Association have denied allegations published by a Canadian author claiming that the 2006 FIFA World Cup second-round clash against Brazil was fixed.
Writing in the book 'The Fix', journalist Declan Hill claims that an Asian betting syndicate influenced the result which led to Ghana's 3-0 defeat against the defending champions in Dortmund, Germany.
However, the GFA has confirmed that it has lodged a complaint with the country's police service to investigate the matter further, with legal action against Hill and the publishers of the book set to follow.
"In view of the seriousness of the allegations against the Ghana Football Association and its players, we have decided to pursue the following lines of action," read a FA statement on www.ghanafa.org.
"We have lodged an official complaint with the Ghana Police Service to investigate the allegations which are criminal in character and possess the unbridled tendency to impugn the sovereign integrity of Ghana.
"We have decided to institute legal action against Declan Hill, the publisher of his book, "Sichere Siege" and publishers of the German Magazine, "Der Spiegel" for publishing defamatory statements about the Ghana Football Association and its players.
"Without prejudice to the foregoing, we have decided to seek the advice of our lawyers on any further cause of action that may be available against Declan Hill, and publishers of the defamatory statements."
The Ghanaians were one of the highlights of the 2006 World Cup - their first ever appearance in the finals.
Despite being drawn in a tough Group E alongside Italy, the Czech Republic and the United States, the Black Stars managed to finish a credible second behind the eventual winners.
But a tough second-round draw saw them ousted 3-0 by Brazil.
The statement continued: "Taking a definite step on the matter, we wish to assure all of the FA's preparedness to utilise and collaborate with the relevant security agencies at both the national and international levels to go into the matter and clear the good and hard won reputation of our team in particular and Ghana Football as a whole.
"We wish to place on record that the FA has confidence in the integrity, commitment, and dedication of players of the Black Stars and notes with great pride the determination, sacrifice, toil and passion with which these gallant stars have lifted and continue to lift high the flag of Ghana."
However, the GFA has confirmed that it has lodged a complaint with the country's police service to investigate the matter further, with legal action against Hill and the publishers of the book set to follow.
"In view of the seriousness of the allegations against the Ghana Football Association and its players, we have decided to pursue the following lines of action," read a FA statement on www.ghanafa.org.
"We have lodged an official complaint with the Ghana Police Service to investigate the allegations which are criminal in character and possess the unbridled tendency to impugn the sovereign integrity of Ghana.
"We have decided to institute legal action against Declan Hill, the publisher of his book, "Sichere Siege" and publishers of the German Magazine, "Der Spiegel" for publishing defamatory statements about the Ghana Football Association and its players.
"Without prejudice to the foregoing, we have decided to seek the advice of our lawyers on any further cause of action that may be available against Declan Hill, and publishers of the defamatory statements."
The Ghanaians were one of the highlights of the 2006 World Cup - their first ever appearance in the finals.
Despite being drawn in a tough Group E alongside Italy, the Czech Republic and the United States, the Black Stars managed to finish a credible second behind the eventual winners.
But a tough second-round draw saw them ousted 3-0 by Brazil.
The statement continued: "Taking a definite step on the matter, we wish to assure all of the FA's preparedness to utilise and collaborate with the relevant security agencies at both the national and international levels to go into the matter and clear the good and hard won reputation of our team in particular and Ghana Football as a whole.
"We wish to place on record that the FA has confidence in the integrity, commitment, and dedication of players of the Black Stars and notes with great pride the determination, sacrifice, toil and passion with which these gallant stars have lifted and continue to lift high the flag of Ghana."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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