Eurovision to be investigated after fixing allegations – Daily TV round-up

Eurovision Song Contest bosses are to investigate claims that cash bribes have been used to fix the voting.

The allegations have been made by a former executive who worked on this year's final in Malmo, Sweden, and reported to a Swedish newspaper.

The executive, who is remaining anonymous, says that Azerbaijani delegates bribed delegates from Malta for their votes with 'enough money to live off for a year'.

Malta have given Azerbaijan the full 12 point score for the past four years.

[Worst dressed Eurovision acts]

They are not the first claims of fixing to have been made.

This year's British entrant Bonnie Tyler, who came 19th in the contest, has previously said that following the final in May this year she overheard Russian delegates in dispute with Azerbaijan over payment for votes.

She told a French newspaper: “The next day the Russians were complaining to Azerbaijan – ‘why didn’t you give us the 10 points we paid for?’

“Excuse me? We paid for? Is this a competition? We haven’t won for 16 years so I didn’t expect to win. But it’s too bad that politics come into it.

“It should be a songwriting competition not who lives next door to you. Did you see the way they vote? Unbelievable.”

These latest accusations were published in Swedish newspaper Skanska Dagbladet, and features further claims that several other nations are involved in behind-the-scenes deals.

It has long been suspected that such bargaining goes on, and now the contest's supervisor Sietse Bakker has said that the claims will be looked into.

“Our investigation into the allegations towards Azerbaijan is still ongoing,” he said.

“We have a very clear policy on such speculations. First of all, we always look into the story. If necessary, we investigate further.

“And if we would find actual proof that the rules have been breached, we will impose firm sanctions and do everything we can to avoid it in the future.” [Daily Mirror]

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