World Cup winners Spain dragged into match-fixing probe after suspicious end result
EXCLUSIVE: Spain’s opening World Cup goalless draw against minnows Cape Verde was such a freak result it was flagged as suspicious by betting monitoring unit
Cape Verde’s hero goalkeeper Vozinha celebrates with his national flag after holding Spain to World Cup draw (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Spain’s goalless draw with Cape Verde was such a seismic soccer shock it dragged the World Cup winners into a match-fixing probe.
It was flagged as suspicious by the Council of Europe’s betting monitoring unit the Group of Copenhagen which is dedicated to detecting, sanctioning and preventing the manipulation of sport.
Investigators were stunned the minnows – playing in their first World Cup finals – could hold the reigning European champions to a draw. They issued a ‘yellow notice’ on the match – suggesting it merited further investigation as a potentially dodgy result. It was one of seven matches the body suggested tournament organisers FIFA should investigate.
Vozinha in tears after Cape Verde’s draw with Spain(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
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Around £3.6m was wagered with US cryptocurrency-based prediction market Polymarket on Spain failing to win what appeared at the start of the tournament to be a dead cert.
But after officials studied betting patterns, intelligence and social media posts surrounding the outcome they ruled it was simply a monumental shock.
They found Spain had 27 shots compared to six for their opponents – but not one of the seven they managed on target could find a way past inspired Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha in the opening Group H clash in Atlanta.
The clubless 40-year-old produced brilliant stops to deny Oyarzabal, Laporte and Torres – who also hit the crossbar as Spain peppered the Cape Verde goal.
The minnows went on to also draw with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to qualify as group runners-up. They eventually lost 3-2 to reigning world champions Argentina – after extra-time. While Spain went on to beat Argentina in the final.
Referee Raphael Claus shows Folarin Balogun a red card for a foul on Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the last-32 match
FIFA’s Integrity Task Force ruled there was ‘no suspicious betting activity or indications of match manipulation’ and the Group of Copenhagen agreed – reclassifying it as ‘green’ or ‘normal’.
A source close to world football’s governing body said: “It was a remarkable result. The fact it flagged up as a potentially suspicious result shows just how well Cape Verde did. But it was simply a huge shock. Shocks do happen in football.
“Argentina lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening game in Qatar in 2022 and still went on to win the World Cup that year.
“Cape Verde were unbeaten this time in any match in 90 minutes. Argentina needed extra time to beat them. “It was the kind of fairytale performance that makes the World Cup so special.”
The Group of Copenhagen was one of a series of independent bodies – including the FBI – monitoring the tournament’s 104 matches for signs of potential fixing.
A red card shown to South Africa’s Themba Zwane in the 84th minute of his side’s tournament-opening game against Mexico was also initially flagged yellow and later de-classified to ‘normal’.
A three-and-a-half-minute delay from the video assistant referee team to disallow a goal from Spain’s Ferran Torres in its 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia was also singled out.
And a flurry of bets on US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card ban being overturned so he could play against Belgium in the last-16 was also highlighted.
His ban was suspended – which meant he could play – after Donald Trump made a personal plea to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Belgium did a ‘Trump shuffle’ on the pitch after thumping the US team 4-1
The Group of Copenhagen pointed out no other bets were offered on red card bans being overturned at the tournament.
But FIFA told the Daily Star it stood by the findings of its Integrity Task Force which had found no evidence of match outcome manipulation at the tournament.
A spokesman said: “FIFA stands by the conclusions of its Integrity Task Force which is the result of a collaborative effort by a large number of independent expert groups.
“Betting‑monitoring reports and other relevant data and information provided by Task Force members, as well as information received through available reporting mechanisms, was analysed and shared among Task Force members in line with operational procedures.
“As a result no suspicious betting activity or indications of match manipulation in connection with any fixture was identified.”
