Cape Town – FIFA on Monday banned three more South African officials over match-fixing scandal, prior to the 2010 World Cup.
It confirmed that former South African Football Association (SAFA) CEO Leslie Sedibe has been banned for five years following a lengthy probe into match-fixing. In addition, he was fined 20,000 Swiss Francs.
Global football’s governing body has also imposed a two-year ban on SAFA officials, Steve Goddard and Adeel Carelse. FIFA last year banned former former SAFA head of national teams Lindile Kika from all football-related activities for six years.
The probe was into friendly matches that South Africa played on the eve of the 2010 World Cup, which were fixed by convicted Singaporean match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal.
South Africa is also under investigation over the corruption scandal that toppled FIFA President Sepp Blatter.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Danny Jordaan, president of the SA Football Association and the association’s former president, Molefi Oliphant have been accused of facilitating a 10 million dollar bribe to the North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) in return for votes to host the 2010 World Cup.
Oliphant headed the association when South Africa bid for the rights to host the showpiece of international football, while Jordaan is widely credited with securing the country the rights.
Charles Blazer, a former member of FIFA’s executive committee has admitted that he and others “on the FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup”.
FIFA’s member associations last month approved a package of landmark reforms that pave the way for significant improvements to the governance of global football, including a clear separation of commercial and political decision-making, greater scrutiny of senior officials, and commitments to promoting women in football and human rights.
The reforms were supported by 179 of the 207 member associations.
(PANA/NAN)
