Uefa says idea of Croatia match-fixing is ‘fantasy’

Uefa has scotched rumours that England could gain a place in the Euro 2008 finals as a result of its joint investigation with Europol into match-fixing. William Gaillard, the Uefa director of communications, denied reports that one of Croatia’s qualifying matches is under scrutiny, which could result in England being given their finals place.

“There is nothing at all from the European Championship,” he said. “It is pure fantasy that it involved Croatia. There is no chance of England or Scotland having a back way into the finals.”

Gaillard confirmed that 15 matches are under suspicion but that the only match being “officially investigated” is an Intertoto Cup match.

Graham Sharpe, of William Hill, the bookmaker, said: “Perhaps some of the blame has to attach to the people that organise tournaments that allow you to have numerous qualifying stages in which there are games where one team has nothing to play for and see an opportunity to make money.”