TNP journalist's book on match-fixing makes headlines

It is a book that made waves across international media outlets after its launch on Monday.

Foul! The Inside Story of Singapore Match Fixers, is written by The New Paper senior correspondent Zaihan Mohamed Yusof.

News agency Agence France Press (AFP), which has a global network that covers 150 countries, covered the book launch and described Mr Zaihan as a "Singaporean investigative journalist who has reported extensively on football match-fixing".

Excerpting bits of Foul!, AFP detailed how Mr Zaihan learnt from a senior government official that a global match-fixing ring planned to rig the World Cup this year. The ring was believed to be based here.

The news agency quoted Mr Zaihan speaking at the book's launch where he talked about the current activity of Singapore-based match fixers. "I can assure you that some things may have changed, but nothing has stopped. Attempts are still going on," he was quoted as saying.

'ENCOURAGING'

Foul!'s launch as well as excerpts of it were also picked up by major newspapers in the region such as The Star in Malaysia and The Bangkok Post in Thailand.

Daily national newspapers in Europe such as L'Equipe from France, Svenska Dagbladet from Sweden and Die Welt from Germany also featured excerpts.

Newspapers from afar such as El Grafico in Chile and The Jamaica Observer also ran reports about the book.

Mr Zaihan said he is heartened by the reception.

"It's encouraging to see the worldwide interest even after more than three years that TNP has been reporting on the subject of match fixing," he said.

Foul! can be bought at leading bookstores at $19.26 (GST inclusive). It can also be ordered from the Straits Times Press online bookstore at www.stpressbooks.com.sg.

wderek@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on June 18, 2014.
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