Ex-Saint Lundekvam ready to talk to FIFA (From Daily Echo)
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Ex-Saint Lundekvam ready to talk to FIFA
8:27am Friday 13th July 2012 in Sport
Ex-Saint Lundekvam ready to talk to FIFA
Former Saints skipper Claus Lundekvam is ready to talk to FIFA as they investigate his claims that he, team-mates and opposing captains were involved in betting fraud - something he now describes as "innocent fun".
In an interview in a Norwegian newspaper, Lundekvam said the players manipulated incidents such as the first throw-in for betting purposes.
The world governing body announced on Wednesday they will investigate the claims.
Lundekvam has now said: "Of course I will talk to FIFA - I have no problem with that. Unfortunately I've been honest about it, so I need to."
He added: "I will obviously have some names and matches. But, to be honest, I wouldn't say any more than I have said already if I don't have to. I would not want to name anyone else. That's not for me to do but I will stand up for what I have said."
Lundekvam reiterated his claims after a number of his former team-mates – such as Francis Benali and David Hirst - denied knowing anything about it.
"I haven't made anything up," he said. "Why would I? I've got nothing to gain from making this up.
"I can't believe what has happened in the last few days. I'm sorry that my honesty has caused such a row."
He also played down the seriousness of the alleged spot-fixing, saying it was done more for fun than money.
He said: "It was never about the money. If we had wanted to, we would have put a lot more money on. Could we do it? That was the fun bit of it for us."
He added: "This was a boys' thing. A dressing-room thing. Innocent fun involving small money."
Lundekvam's initial claims came earlier this week, when he said spot-fixing took place in Premier League matches in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He told Norwegian TV station NRK: "It's not something I'm proud of.
"For a while we did this almost every week. We made a fair bit of money. We could make deals with the opposing captain about, for example, betting on the first throw, the first corner, who started with the ball, a yellow card or a penalty.
"Those were the sorts of thing we had influence over."
Lundekvam insisted he and his fellow players never rigged the result of a match.
He said: "The results were never on the agenda. That is something I would never have done. We were professional competitors. Even though what we did, of course, was illegal, it was just a fun thing."
Comments(39)
saintmicky
says...
8:56am Fri 13 Jul 12
upwherewebelong
says...
8:57am Fri 13 Jul 12
saintdavie
says...
8:59am Fri 13 Jul 12
Even if this did happen does he really need to make it public knowlege? He would never make a good politician.
Alicesdad
says...
9:04am Fri 13 Jul 12
FIFA are going to have a lot of fun here chasing their tails in circles.
Claus will inevitably be asked for actual examples with names, facts and figures, then we really will see the bickering start.
FIFA should stick to their main job and not waste time on this.
We all know that their main purpose is to employ corrupt officials and take huge bungs for making sure that obscure corrupt countries get the major tournaments. Their only other purpose is to ensure that England never host a World Cup and that every obstacle is put in front of English clubs in European competitions. Not that it always works mind you.
FIFA will prance around a bit, make a fews loud puffs and then state that there is no evidence. They will then all clear off back down to Rymans to buy another bulk supply of brown envelopes for the next bungs run.
The story will be dead in a week.
SimplyAwesome
says...
9:09am Fri 13 Jul 12
St Retford
says...
9:11am Fri 13 Jul 12
White and red till dead
says...
9:11am Fri 13 Jul 12
alan.of.eastleigh
says...
9:36am Fri 13 Jul 12
St Retford wrote:Nobody asked him about it. He took the initiative with the Norwegian press.
People are so hostile about this. Someone asked him about it and he told them. What's the problem? He's not doing it to make money.
St Retford
says...
9:57am Fri 13 Jul 12
alan.of.eastleigh wrote:It's not like he held a press conference to announce it. It just came up in the course of an interview and he was honest and open about it.
St Retford wrote:Nobody asked him about it. He took the initiative with the Norwegian press.
People are so hostile about this. Someone asked him about it and he told them. What's the problem? He's not doing it to make money.
I don't remember Le Tiss getting any stick when he included it as a juicy tidbit in his book which, when you think about it, really was for commercial gain.
arthur dalyrimple
says...
10:22am Fri 13 Jul 12
SimplyAwesome
says...
10:22am Fri 13 Jul 12
St Retford
says...
10:28am Fri 13 Jul 12
arthur dalyrimple wrote:I think you're over-thinking it. I reckon this is just Claus having a bit of a chuckle at some of the stupid stuff he did as a young man. I do it all the time. (Laughing at what a knob I was, I mean; not spot fixing.)
all it wil take is a few more to come out of the woodwork and a major crisis will develop ,i think there is a much bigger agenda here , war between the english fa and fifa ,this is the opening salvo.
Bigrich1980
says...
10:41am Fri 13 Jul 12
Dickosfc
says...
10:42am Fri 13 Jul 12
upwherewebelong
says...
10:44am Fri 13 Jul 12
St Retford wrote:people are hostile in my opinion due to Klaus clearly having an ulterior motive for doing this. which is either
People are so hostile about this. Someone asked him about it and he told them. What's the problem? He's not doing it to make money.
1. Destroy SFC's good name
2. Earn money for him
3. He's falling completely off the rails and is mentally shot to pieces.
If he really felt troubled or strongly about it why has he waited so long. I think the Echo should now refuse to publish anything about Klaus and we should erase this guy from our minds. Just my opinion others will no doubt disagree
saintsdan
says...
10:45am Fri 13 Jul 12
circa 66 saint
says...
10:48am Fri 13 Jul 12
St Retford wrote:if we all admitted to the stupid things we done when we were younger, the courts, the prisons, the whole structure of society would collapse.
arthur dalyrimple wrote:I think you're over-thinking it. I reckon this is just Claus having a bit of a chuckle at some of the stupid stuff he did as a young man. I do it all the time. (Laughing at what a knob I was, I mean; not spot fixing.)
all it wil take is a few more to come out of the woodwork and a major crisis will develop ,i think there is a much bigger agenda here , war between the english fa and fifa ,this is the opening salvo.
EUREKA!!!!!!!!! just found a non violent way for a revolution.
civil disobedience
no!!!! civil obedience
start by admitting to ringing door bells and running off,
the mars bar nicked when you were 10 from the paper shop,
mind you at my age i think all the potential witnesses are brown bread
Hobson82
says...
10:57am Fri 13 Jul 12
saintsdan wrote:Agreed. I think he will stay away, it's nothing to do with him.
Ive said it before and will keep saying it this is the old saints the past we are in a new era I hope nc keeps away from this
But this story just reminds me of the old Fashanu/Grobelaar case years ago. If memory serves me right it was the players who were punished and not the clubs. Hope that remains the same this time round.
Confucious
says...
11:02am Fri 13 Jul 12
St Retford
says...
11:06am Fri 13 Jul 12
circa 66 saint wrote:Well, to quote a song title by the Manic Street Preachers from back in the days when they were relevant: "Ifwhiteamericatoldt
St Retford wrote:if we all admitted to the stupid things we done when we were younger, the courts, the prisons, the whole structure of society would collapse.
arthur dalyrimple wrote:I think you're over-thinking it. I reckon this is just Claus having a bit of a chuckle at some of the stupid stuff he did as a young man. I do it all the time. (Laughing at what a knob I was, I mean; not spot fixing.)
all it wil take is a few more to come out of the woodwork and a major crisis will develop ,i think there is a much bigger agenda here , war between the english fa and fifa ,this is the opening salvo.
EUREKA!!!!!!!!! just found a non violent way for a revolution.
civil disobedience
no!!!! civil obedience
start by admitting to ringing door bells and running off,
the mars bar nicked when you were 10 from the paper shop,
mind you at my age i think all the potential witnesses are brown bread
hetruthforonedayitsw
orldwouldfallapart".
It's a wonder they didn't get on Top Of The Pops a bit more.
saintdavie
says...
11:40am Fri 13 Jul 12
business-guru
says...
11:56am Fri 13 Jul 12
andysaints007
says...
12:34pm Fri 13 Jul 12
St Retford wrote:What do you mean by what a know you WERE? You still are.
arthur dalyrimple wrote:I think you're over-thinking it. I reckon this is just Claus having a bit of a chuckle at some of the stupid stuff he did as a young man. I do it all the time. (Laughing at what a knob I was, I mean; not spot fixing.)
all it wil take is a few more to come out of the woodwork and a major crisis will develop ,i think there is a much bigger agenda here , war between the english fa and fifa ,this is the opening salvo.
andysaints007
says...
12:35pm Fri 13 Jul 12
andysaints007 wrote:What do you mean by what a knob you WERE? You still are.
St Retford wrote:What do you mean by what a know you WERE? You still are.
arthur dalyrimple wrote:I think you're over-thinking it. I reckon this is just Claus having a bit of a chuckle at some of the stupid stuff he did as a young man. I do it all the time. (Laughing at what a knob I was, I mean; not spot fixing.)
all it wil take is a few more to come out of the woodwork and a major crisis will develop ,i think there is a much bigger agenda here , war between the english fa and fifa ,this is the opening salvo.
saintjak
says...
1:33pm Fri 13 Jul 12
saintjak
says...
1:34pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Mush On The Beach
says...
1:40pm Fri 13 Jul 12
saintjak wrote:Hilarious ..... Brought to you by Hansie Cronje promotions
Brilliant, Claus talking to FIFA about fraudulant activities. You couldnt make it up...
Alicesdad
says...
2:27pm Fri 13 Jul 12
saintjak wrote:FIFA aren't looking to punish anyone, they are looking for new sources of income.
Brilliant, Claus talking to FIFA about fraudulant activities. You couldnt make it up...
Alicesdad
says...
2:31pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Like shooting fish in a barrel.
Alicesdad
says...
2:33pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Alicesdad
says...
2:36pm Fri 13 Jul 12
truelysaints
says...
2:36pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Alicesdad
says...
2:41pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Any opportunity to take a pop at FIFA has to be seized with both hands.
How did the beautiful game end up in the hands of such bloated corrupt self seeking numpties. No not Rednap,.. Splatter !!
Alicesdad
says...
2:45pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Come on FIFA ..... there's a ball involved surely you have an interest ?
Alicesdad
says...
2:47pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Rednaps dog has £500 on it being before lunchtime tomorrow.
Mush On The Beach
says...
3:00pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Alicesdad wrote:Sadly under our watch led by Sir Stanley Rous, Rous was proven to be a man out of touch with the world of politics. He endorsed apartheid and was out on his arrse and England lost its power base. João Havelange from Brazil wiped the floor with him and trained Blatter up as his protégé. Their distaste at our past dominance and ignorance to promoting the game in 3rd world countries has guaranteed we will not see a world cup at the home of football in our life time.
I have gone from being really annoyed about this to frankly not giving a flying fig!! Nobody can prove anything so its going nowhere.
Any opportunity to take a pop at FIFA has to be seized with both hands.
How did the beautiful game end up in the hands of such bloated corrupt self seeking numpties. No not Rednap,.. Splatter !!
Still, what do I know? I’m just a simple Mush who climbs trees.
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
5:38pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Alicesdad
says...
9:26am Mon 16 Jul 12
Politically we have nobody with the acumen, guile and gravitas to become a major figure at the top table of global football organisation.
Now and then we may flourish and reach a quarter or semi final but as things stand we are destined to be the second string in international football.
Never mind, Saints can make up for that by being a true power in the domestic game. My pint is just overflowing with that thought in mind.
sledgerite says...
8:51am Fri 13 Jul 12