Skip to main content

FIFA plans clampdown on friendlies

Until now, FIFA have taken little interest in friendlies, allowing national associations to set up games where and when they want without intervention.

But on Thursday FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke said that, following the recent incidents which threatened the sport's credibility, football's governing body planned to tighten the rules.

"We have had problems with friendlies played in Turkey and also the match between Bahrain and Togo and we want to make sure these kind of matches cannot happen anymore without a clear indication to FIFA," Valcke told reporters.

"We will strengthen our capabilities of intervening if we have the feeling there is a suspicion of match-fixing, or whatever to protect football."

"We would need a several types of information including the name of the referee. FIFA and the confederation will have the power to change the referee if we think he's not the right referee to be in charge.

"In Turkey, there was a grey area."

Bahrein's 3-0 win over Togo was quickly forgotten when it transpired that the African team was a fake.

"We have 60 professionals working in our legal service, it is one of the biggest departments," he said.

"Football has become a very attractive game for gambling and we have to protect it.

"You have to protect the game. We are a victim of our popularity and we must also take responsibility."