HARARE - Wilson Raj Perumal, the self-confessed serial match-fixer behind the Asiagate scandal involving the Zimbabwe national football team, is back in the news again.
Perumal, currently under house arrest in Hungary, is believed to be the mastermind behind a series of dubious friendly internationals which the Warriors took part in between 2007 and 2009.
After the details of the scandal started to emerge, the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) ordered an inquiry and subsequently banned for life 15 individuals, who include administrators, club officials, players and journalists.
Perumal, a Singaporean national, is currently working on his autobiography with two Italian journalists, Alessandro Righi and Emanuele Piano, who produced The Fix for the Al Jazeera People and Power series.
Details of all Perumal’s dirty dealings spanning from as far back as 1996 will be contained in the book that will be released soon.
Righi and Piano last week gave an interview to Beyond The Pitch, a football lifestyle magazine, to talk about their latest project they are working together with the mortified Singaporean gangster.
“We would like to convey the news that Wilson Raj Perumal, a major fixers of matches throughout the world, has decided to write a book, together with us,” the Italian journalists told Beyond The Pitch.
“The book will contain his memoirs and criminal adventures throughout the world. We are not in a position to disclose more information at the moment.”
Perumal revealed to the Italians that it was easy for him to fix matches involving smaller national teams in South America and Africa.
“Poor countries like El Salvador are perfect for him (Perumal). If he is going to convince you to sell your team it will be easy,” revealed the Italian journalists.
“If he chose Lesotho or a similar country, where there is no money, it becomes easier. The poorest countries are the most vulnerable.
“Imagine what kind of money he had to fork out if he wanted to bribe the Italy or French national teams.”
Righi and Piano also claim that Perumal confided that he rigged the 2010 World Cup qualifier between the Unites States and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Caribbean islanders lost 1-0 in April 2009 to ensure that the US qualified for the tournament in South Africa.