Former assistant coach Jo Bonfrère of Nigeria has to rectify his statements about match fixing, the court in Arnhem has ruled in summary proceedings. That was initiated by Clemens Westerhof, the former national coach of the African country. He wants his name to be cleared, because he says he can work as technical director of the Nigerian Football Association.
74-year-old Bonfrère had suggested on Nigerian sports channel Brila FM that Westerhof had sold the Nigeria-Italy match for $ 100,000 in the US during the 1994 World Cup. Nigeria lost that game 2-1 after extra time. The now 80-year-old Westerhof was the national coach at the time, Bonfrère his assistant.
Bonfrère says his words have been distorted, but according to the judge that is unbelievable. For example, various Nigerian media report on the statements. Moreover, the Arnhem court finds that concrete facts about the alleged match fixing are missing. “That is why the former assistant has damaged the former national coach in his honor and reputation and that is unlawful.”
Westerhof reacted furiously to the statements two weeks ago:
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