A new company, which has been set up by FIFA to deal with suspect betting patterns, will keep a watch on matches at the 2006 World Cup, FIFA's general secretary Urs Linsi said on Friday.

The new organisation will work in partnership with companies which specialise in spotting what could be attempts to manipulate games for financial gain.

The company, FIFA Early Warning System GmbH, was created in January 2006 in response to the Robert Hoyzer betting scandal that broke in Germany last year.

Hoyzer was found guilty late last year of fixing matches in a €2 million (£1.4 million) betting fraud. The case caused huge embarrassment to German football as a whole, just a year before their hosting of the 2006 World Cup, which runs from June 9 until July 9.

“This company will be monitoring unusual betting in all competitions, including in the World Cup,” FIFA general secretary Linsi said on Friday.

“I think we've taken the necessary steps (to prevent match-fixing). And this is not just for the World Cup.”

FIFA's Executive Committee recently approved a Task Force report which stressed the need for coordinated action with Confederations and National Associations to protect the game against those seeking to manipulate matches.

Linsi was speaking at a news conference to mark the end of a four-day workshop for the 44 referees shortlisted for places at the World Cup.

The final selection of the referees that will be involved in the Finals will be made at a meeting of the refereeing committee on March 31.

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