Nothing Spices Up International Friendly Week Like Match-Fixing

France v Brazil? Portugal v Argentina? Germany v Italy? Bosh. The big game of the international friendly week was found far off in the corner of Antalya, Turkey, where Bulgaria and Estonia scrapped it out to a 2-2 draw. Not your typical marquee friendly, but this wasnt your typical game.

There were pregame rumblings that the fix was in, and the fact that all four goals came via penalties did nothing to quiet the whispers. Three of the four penalties seemed like perfectly dreadful tackles, with one a foul but starting just outside the box (though weve all seen that given as a spot kick many times), but theres more.

The same agency which set up this friendly also set up Latvia v Bolivia. Three goals, three penalties. (Cant quite find any highlights.)

In total: 1 agency, 2 friendlies, 7 goals, 7 penalties. No, not suspicious whatsoever.

The situation becomes even more confusing taking into account the fact that all three goals in the previous match were also scored from penalties.

Latvia beat Bolivia 2-1 in a friendly in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya just before the Bulgaria-Estonia game. Hungarian referee Krisztian Selmeczi was in charge of both matches.

We dont know this referee and we cant say he acted intentionally when awarding the penalties, said BFU vice-president Atanas Furnadzhiev. Well inform UEFA and they will probably investigate the match.

The friendly was organised by an agency with whom well not work anymore, Estonia FA spokesman Mihkel Uiboleht told local media.

We received information of a possible manipulation even before the game as the same agency also organised the match between Latvia and Bolivia and there was the same scenario there.

Something smells rotten in Antalya.