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"A batch of potentially fixed international matches before the 2010 World Cup. Fresh allegations Qatari officials used bribes to land the 2022 tournament. A Nigerian agent claiming he has the power to fix matches this summer in Brazil.\nWith the 2014 World Cup less than two weeks away, the world should be focused on transcendent talents, the toughest groups and the legacy-defining heroics that will unfold in Brazil between the tournament's June 12 kickoff and July 13 final.\nInstead, this weekend brought a host of corruption allegations spanning a range of geography, time and motivations.\nSee also: 7 Dramatic Storylines to Make Anyone a World Cup Soccer Fan\nIndividually, the tales of the Nigerian agent, the Singapore syndicate and the Qatari bid shine a light on the seedy underbelly of soccer, the world's most popular sport. As a whole, they paint a troubling picture of just how easy it is to pervert the beautiful game at its highest levels \u2014 even all the way up to the World Cup.\nThe Nigerian agent\nNigeria, making its second consecutive World Cup appearance, is in the 2014 field's Group F alongside Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iran. But reaching the game's ultimate stage does not make the Super Eagles immune to soccer's basest temptations, according to claims made by one Nigerian agent.\nHenry Chukwuma Okoroji says he can pay players to deliberately pick up penalties from officials at the World Cup this summer, according to an investigative report published by England's Sun on Sunday newspaper this weekend. Okoroji was caught on video this April saying members of the Nigerian national team are willing to deliberately provoke yellow cards from referees for \u20AC50,000, and intentionally provoke red cards for \u20AC100,000, the Guardian reports.\n\u201CHundred percent, two players,\" Okoroji reportedly says in a video that was filmed in a hotel room in Milan, Italy, in April. \"It\u2019s left up to you people what you want to do. You people will pay for a yellow or a red card or a penalty.\u201D\nIt's not clear who Okorji is speaking to in the video, but the bombshell comes at a sensitive time for the Nigerian squad. The Super Eagles played a friendly against Scotland last Wednesday \u2014 a game Britain's National Crime Agency was informed beforehand could be a target for match-fixing. Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi strongly refuted any tampering by his players, and no wrongdoing was officially found.\nNonetheless, this own-goal by Nigerian goalkeeper Austin Ejide drew a widespread and cynical response around the web on Wednesday. Does Ejide throw the ball into his own net \u2014 or was the ball legitimately jarred out by another player? It certainly looks suspicious.\n\nThat goal was actually disallowed because of an unrelated penalty, but Nigeria scored another own-goal later in the match. This one, however, looks more innocuous.\n\nMatch-fixing in soccer often involves influencing the total number of goals scored, as opposed to who wins or loses, according to close followers of soccer tampering, so any ball that's allowed to pass into the goal could have significant gambling consequences. Last week's Nigeria-Scotland match ended in a 2-2 tie.\nThe Singapore syndicate\n\nIn this June 1, 2011, file photo, referee Ibrahim Chaibou, red top, is surrounded by Argentina soccer players after he awarded a penalty against them during an international friendly soccer match with Nigeria Super eagles at the National stadium in Abuja, Nigeria. Chaibou has refereed at five international games that a top betting monitor has flagged as suspicious, including this Nigeria-Argentina game. Image: Sunday Alamba/Associated Press\"A soccer referee named Ibrahim Chaibou walked into a bank in a small South African city carrying a bag filled with as much as $100,000 in $100 bills, according to another referee traveling with him,\" an unrelated Sunday New York Times piece opens. \"The deposit was so large that a bank employee gave Mr. Chaibou a gift of commemorative coins bearing the likeness of Nelson Mandela.\"\nChaibou is a central figure in the Times report, which is based on an unreleased FIFA investigation about match-fixing ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.\nLater on the same day he allegedly made his huge bank deposit, the month before the 2010 tournament began, Chaibou made several questionable calls in an exhibition match between South Africa and Guatemala. According to Times report, a syndicate based in Singapore bribed South African soccer officials to illegally let it provide referees such as Chaibou for pre-World Cup exhibition matches. As many as 15 games were targeted for fixing, according to the report.\nImportant to note is that no attempted fixing of actual World Cup matches was reported. But the investigation does raise questions about how easily organized crime was apparently able to infiltrate the governing body for soccer in a World Cup host country just before the tournament was set to begin \u2014 and do so with no serious repercussions.\nIt also shows the lengths to which syndicates will go to protect their investments.\n\u201CThis time, you really have gone too far and, you know, we\u2019re going to eliminate you,\u201D a syndicate boss reportedly threatened one South Africa official who resisted the group's attempts at tampering.\nThe suspect Qatari bid\n\nPresident of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohammed Bin Hammam talks to journalists during a press conference in Kuwait City on Sunday, May 8, 2011. Image: Gustavo Ferrari/Associated PressAnd finally, we reach Qatar's controversial bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Ever since the scorchingly hot Middle Eastern country was awarded the 2022 tournament over the United States, Australia, South Korea and Japan in December 2010, questions have dogged the Qatari bid's legitimacy.\nMany observers deemed Qatar's successful bid suspect based on the sheer logic of playing grueling matches in its stifling heat. Moving the World Cup to the wintertime \u2014 which would be sacrilegious to soccer fans \u2014 was floated as one fix. Building artificial clouds to cool stadiums was floated as another.\nBut fresh allegations of wrongdoing reported by England's Sunday Times provide the most damning evidence of corruption yet. Mohamed bin Hammam, a Qatari who once served on FIFA's executive committee, bought the winning hosting votes with gifts and cash deliveries totaling more than $5 million to senior soccer officials, the Times says internal emails reveal.\nBin Hammam was not a voting member of FIFA's executive committee in December 2010 \u2014 but, as The New York Times notes, three longtime colleagues of his who were on the committee at that time have since resigned while being investigated for corruption.\nA FIFA investigation into Qatar's winning bid is due to be completed by June 9, but the head of the inquiry says he won't consider the new evidence brought to light this weekend.\nMeanwhile, more than 180 migrant workers from Nepal have already died working to build Qatar's 2022 cup, and ESPN estimates the total number of migrant worker deaths could reach 4,000 by the time the event actually arrives.\nAmid it all, the World Cup\n\nFC Barcelona stars Lionel Messi and Neymar celebrate after a goal on March 29, 2014. Messi will suit up for Argentina and Neymar will suit up for host Brazil at this summer's World Cup. Image: Manu Fernandez/Associated PressSo what does all this mean for the 2014 World Cup that kicks off in Brazil on June 12? Nothing so far. The Brazil cup has many off-the-pitch issues, but none of this weekend's corruption stories point toward malfeasance there. Even Sunday's extensive report about match-fixing in South Africa in 2010 contains no evidence that actual World Cup games were ever touched by gamblers.\nSo we'll still see the brilliance of Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo soon. We'll still see if France can redeem its disastrous 2010 campaign, and whose proud heart will break in deadly Group D. We'll still see who raises the World Cup trophy in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.\nBut, as the spectacle unfolds in all its glory, one thing is worth keeping in mind now more than ever: There are games beyond the game \u2014 and what happens behind the sporting scenes can often be as unseemly as f\u00FAtbol is beautiful.\n\n\nUniforms of the World Cup, from best to worst\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. Brazil\nWhen Brazil looks to win its sixth World Cup on its home soil this summer, it'll do so in the utmost style. The yellow and blue numbers above stick close to the blueprint for the sele\u00E7\u00E3o's respective home and away kits. Meanwhile, the dark green alternate jersey provides a nice change of pace, right down those subtly striped shorts. To mix our sports metaphors, Brazil (with some help from Nike) knocks it out of the park. Final score: 10/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. Spain\nAdidas does a top-notch job of balancing tradition with innovation. The red home numbers reflect the look you expect from Spain, while the away versions offer something else entirely: A black base with neon green trim. Not every nation could pull this off, but the look fits perfectly with Spain's stacked squad of fearsome attackers and creative ball-handlers. Final score 9.6/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. Portugal\nAnother excellent study in contrasts. Portugal's red home kit is all fire and strength, while the away kit features a clean blue and white look. The Portuguese Football Federation's excellent patch, meanwhile, is a welcome addition to any shirt. Final score: 9.5/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Italy\nItaly has one of the game's classic kits, year in and year out. Puma does that heritage justice here, with two equally excellent outfits. From the tiny collar on the blue home shirt to the light gray pinstripes on the white away kit, little details make a difference. Final score: 9.4/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. Germany\nAnother great contrasting look. The white home kit is clean, simple and traditional, while the away kit's deep red and black stripes give the attacking German squad some fearsome style. Final score: 9.2/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6. Argentina\nArgentina's vertically striped home kits are among the most iconic in soccer. Adidas does good job of not messing with tradition here, while the  albiceleste's darker away duds look sharp too. Final score: 9.1/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n7. Netherlands\nThe Netherlands signature orange home shirts and excellent lion crest give Nike plenty to work with here. But it's the subtle designs on the blue away kit that really win us over. Final score: 9/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n8. Mexico\nAdidas does El Tri justice here with a killer green home kit (moving the Federaci\u00F3n Mexicana de F\u00FAtbol Asociaci\u00F3n's crest to the middle of the shirt is a nice touch). The blood-red away kits should look awesome in Brazil as well. Final score: 8.8/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n9. France\nLess is more with France's 2014 kits from Nike. The blue home kit is classic and timeless, while horizontal gray striping takes the white away shirt to another level. Final score: 8.7/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n10. Cameroon\nPuma pulled out all the stops for Cameroon's green home jersey. The relief designs, vivid coloring and traditional lion crest (the squad's amazing nickname is the Indomitable Lions) add up to a classic. That gold away number isn't shabby either. Final score: 8.5/10. \n\nImage:  Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n11. Japan\nAnother excellent balancing act between tradition and boldness. Japan's blue home kits don't contain any huge surprises, but that neon away uni is something else entirely. Both look mighty fine, however. Final score: 8.4/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n12. England\nNike goes for a classic look on both England's home and away kits. Neither takes any real risks, but they both look pretty sweet. That yellow goalie shirt isn't bad either. Final score: 8.2/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n13. Croatia\nThose checkers! We have a feeling you'll either love or hate Croatia's unique national team kits, but we are definitely in the pro-check camp. The red and white checks look even better when used as trim on Croatia's blue away shirts. Final score: 8/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n14. Belgium\nBelgium's three looks offer plenty of variety but it's the big crown in-lay that goes a long way for us. Final score: 7.8/10\n\nImage:  Burrda Sport\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Cote D'Ivoire\nPuma deserves credit for letting the Ivory Coast's lovely green and orange colors do the heavy lifting here. The country's elephant crest is also among the coolest in soccer. Final score: 7.6/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n16. Ghana\nGhana's red away kits are sharp, but it's the creative trim around the collar of the home whites that will have the Black Stars looking extra-super in Brazil. Final score: 7.4/10\n\nImage:  Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n17. Greece\nNike stuck to simplicity for Greece, and the result is a smooth look. Then again, that simplicity doesn't offer anything far out of the ordinary, landing these uniforms in the middle of our power rankings. Final score: 7.2/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n18. United States\nWhen Nike unveiled the multi-colored USA away kits this spring, many snarkily denigrated them for looking like a summer popsicle. We think they look mighty fine -- but those home white jerseys look too much like something you'd see at a Florida retirement village. Final score: 7/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n19. Russia\nNot bad, but far from transcendent. The white away kits do feature a unique design that we like. Final score: 6.7/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n20. Australia\nPoints for simplicity -- but not too many points. Final score: 6.6/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n21. Switzerland\nThese are ... fine. Final score: 6.3/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n22. Uruguay\nThe blue-on-black home kits are kind of sweet, but this is the World Cup -- we're looking for greatness, not goodness. Final score: 6.2/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n23. Colombia\nAgain, good but not great (in our humble opinion, of course). Final score: 6/10\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n24. Algeria\nSome nice touches -- the crescent moon and light green color give a good starting point -- but, overall, not a lot going on. Final score: 5.8/10\n\nImage:  Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n25. Chile\nChile is an interesting dark-horse contender in Brazil, but its uniforms won't be generating a ton of buzz. We do like the red home kit's blue collar though. Final score: 5.7/10\n\nImage:  Tom Oldham Photography/Puma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n26. Costa Rica\nEhhhh, these are okay. Final score: 5.6/10\n\nImage:  Lotto Sport\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n27. Ecuador\nThey definitely don't suck. But they definitely aren't that memorable, either. Final score: 5.5/10\n\nImage:  Marathon Sports\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n28. Nigeria\nNigeria's green and white flag offers a rich starting point, but we wish there was more going on here. Final score: 5.4\n\nImage:  Adidas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n29. Honduras\nCool T-shirt? Yes. Cool World Cup jersey? Less so. Final score: 5.3/10\n\nImage:  Joma\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n30. South Korea\nPretty pedestrian, plus those differently-colored shoulder stripes on the white away kits look a little odd. Final score: 5.1/10\n\nImage:  Nike\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n31. Iran\nThat's a cool in-lay, but these are otherwise pretty meh. Final score: 5/10\n\nImage:  uhlSport\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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