21 November,2009 09:52 AM IST | | A Correspondent
A match-fixing issue in nine European countries follows the Henry handball controversy. Late last night, we learnt about 18 people dying in Algeria's world cup qualifying celebrations
These are terrible days for Pele's 'beautiful game'.
French iconic captain Thierry Henry's handball in the World Cup playoff against Ireland has triggered a major controversy over the violation of ethics in sport.
France's tainted qualification for the World Cup football finals, won at Ireland's expense thanks to a blatant handball, left a sour taste in the mouth and prompted a storm of criticism.
Striker Henry's illegal fumbling of the ball, setting up an extra time strike that saw his side through to next year's competition, continued to dominate football coverage around the world.
Match-fixing
The sport has been further maligned as German prosecutors claimed yesterday that around 200 football matches in nine European countries including at least three Champions League games are implicated in a new match-fixing scandal.
18 dead
In Algeria, at least 18 people died and 312 were injured in traffic accidents during celebrations following Algeria's World Cup qualifying victory against Egypt, authorities said yesterday.
In the most serious single accident following Wednesday's match in Khartoum, which Algeria won 1-0, five people died in the southern district of Ouargla, the civil protection service was quoted as saying in the press.
