Football’s ruling body FIFA has dismissed conspiracy theories around the 2014 World Cup draw, saying there was no manipulation at last week’s event in Brazil.
“These rumours are totally unfounded,” FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said on Tuesday.
There was speculation after Friday’s draw that Argentina was not placed by chance in group F, along with Iran, Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Argentine reports said reporters were told ahead of the draw in which group Lionel Messi’s team would be, and the team’s World Cup base camp was set up before the draw in Belo Horizonte, where they will play against Iran.
Twitter posts allegedly accurately predicting the composition of group F added to conspiracy theories, so did allegedly FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke, for opening the balls containing the team names not fully visible behind his lectern.
But FIFA said “all the preparations for the draw were monitored and validated by three representatives of Ernst and Young”, and that seven cameras were constantly focused on Valcke during the draw, with the show’s TV director deciding on the spot which camera angle was shown.
Click here for the full draw of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Matt
Guest
Possibly. The best reason behind conspiracies is "why?" and I'm not sure what benefit FIFA would be getting from this. Unless of course Argentina paid some nice $ to get a good draw. Outside of that, they're a decent team, they'd have to get a tough draw to be eliminated in the group stages.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I reckon the old Uruguayan (I think) former player was FIFA's 'secret agent'. Looked inoffensive enough and couldn't be blamed for not shaking the balls. He even dropped one although it might have been because of the distraction caused by the stunner. well done fifa!
Australian Rules
Guest
It worked! (although the poor girl apparently now has a fatwa on her in Iran for her "immodest" dress)
nordster
Guest
It was more the suggestion that the lip on Valcke's desk was enabling him to switch the bits of paper after they come out of the ball. Technically it would be possible to if u watch the replay, he puts the bit of paper down as he opens it. Then emerges from behind the desk lip! Far fetched i would agree....last time it was heated balls that was the theory....
AZ_RBB
Guest
So the supermodel was there as a distraction from the rigging?
Matt
Guest
FIFA is corrupt of course, not sure they could have controlled much of the outcome though? I didn't watch it, from mind they had balls in each bowl, the only way of knowing which is which would be some kind of marking, or fixed position. Shaking the balls would eliminate the fixed positions, and not looking at the balls means marking not possible. So if both of those happen, not sure how they possibly could have known which ball to grab... (unless they had an earpiece and someone who was able to see the new ball locations told them where to grab) Seems far fetched...
nordster
Guest
Man why not just make a flat desk lol....save all the theories....though either way it worked out well for us. Just lucky they didnt rig us into a boring group like Algeria or Costa rica ;)
FTR
Guest
FIFA is a seriously shady organisation.