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FIFA to support Sierra Leone probe

#INSERT type:image caption:FIFA is supporting a Sierra Leone Football Association investigation into claims that players tried to fix a World Cup qualifying match in 2008. END#

ZURICH -- FIFA is supporting a Sierra Leone Football Association investigation into claims that players tried to fix a World Cup qualifying match in 2008.

FIFA says its security director Ralf Mutschke will travel to Sierra Leone to help the case and an education program to tackle match-fixing.

Last week, Sierra Leone suspended four national team players, including former captain Ibrahim Kargbo, and 11 officials.

The case involves alleged attempts to fix a June 2008 qualifier against South Africa in Pretoria, which ended 0-0. Though South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup, it played in a group which doubled as qualifiers for the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

FIFA promised support after president Sepp Blatter and secretary general Jerome Valcke met on Wednesday with SLFA president Isha Johansen.