Sierra Leone FA president suspects match-fixing after friendly vs. Iran

The president of Sierra Leone's football association (SLFA) has requested an investigation into possible match-fixing during a friendly this month between her country and 2018 World Cup participant Iran.

Isha Johansen said that Sierra Leone fielded a weakened team - comprising mostly of youngsters - against Iran on March 17 without her approval.

"I'd like to suggest the Match-Fixing Enquiry Committee looks into (how) this friendly was agreed upon and conducted by the SLFA," Johansen wrote to FIFA in a letter obtained by the BBC.

Fears of match-fixing were raised prior to kick-off in Tehran, but the president of the Iranian football federation, Mehdi Taj, decided not to cancel the friendly so that the country could continue preparing for the World Cup.

Iran, Asia's top-ranked nation, won the exhibition match 4-0.

Corruption allegations have troubled Sierra Leonean football for years, with Johansen at the centre of a tussle for power. In 2014, nearly a dozen officials and four players were suspended for match-fixing. Last year, the SLFA attempted to oust Johansen as president amid accusations that she misappropriated public funds. FIFA said the ruling - which favoured removing Johansen during the investigation - was invalid.