BBC Podcast Investigates Alleged US Conspiracy in 1994 World Cup

Short overview
A new BBC podcast series, 'Sports Strangest Crimes Presents: Shadows On The Pitch,' investigates a conspiracy theory that the US influenced a World Cup qualifying tournament to save the 1994 World Cup. The first episode features a former referee with a cryptic message.
BBC Radio 5 Live has launched a new podcast series, 'Sports Strangest Crimes Presents: Shadows On The Pitch,' which investigates a startling conspiracy theory from the 1990s. The series, hosted by journalist James Montague, examines allegations that the United States manipulated a World Cup qualifying tournament to protect the 1994 World Cup from its so-called enemies.
The Alleged Conspiracy
According to the theory, put forward by the Iraqi football federation in the 1990s, American influence was exerted during the qualifying process to ensure that the 1994 tournament, hosted by the US, would proceed without interference from hostile nations. The series delves into the details of this claim, exploring whether there is any truth behind it.
First Episode: A Cryptic Clue
In the opening episode, Montague travels to Bucharest, Romania, in search of answers. A former referee, who possesses a cryptic message, may hold the key to unraveling the mystery. The episode follows Montague as he attempts to decode the message and uncover the truth behind the alleged conspiracy surrounding the build-up to the 1994 World Cup.
The episode is available for 29 days on BBC Sounds. Listeners who enjoy the first episode can find the rest of the series on the 'Sports Strangest Crimes' feed on BBC Sounds.
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