Berekum Chelsea have angrily refuted Tunisian media speculation that they had been offered a bribe to lose Sunday's Champions League game against Mazembe. Four-time champions Mazembe needed a win to finish top of Group B, but a 1-0 defeat in Ghana meant relinquishing first place to Ahli and facing holders Esperance in the semis. After upsetting Mazembe in Accra, the Ghanaians issued a statement over the controversy caused by Tunisian media. “Our attention has been drawn to a publication by a Tunisian news portal that TP Mazembe officials offered to bribe Berekum Chelsea to influence the result of our game on Sunday," the statement read. “We wish to state categorically that this report is utterly false. “We have not met any TP Mazembe official or officials let alone discuss bribes. “We want to assure all Ghanaians, Berekum Chelsea fans and members African football fraternity that we will not desecrate the sanctity of our club and African football with such dubious acts. “We also want to warn the media to desist from spreading such false reports or we will be forced to take legal action to salvage our hard-earned reputation."
