August 17 – FIFA Ethics investigators have recommended a six-year ban and CHF10,000 fine for Kirsten Nematandani, former president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), for alleged ethics violations related to the fixing of international friendlies in 2010, weeks before South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup.
The investigation also recommends life bans for Jonathan Musavengana, a former official of the Zimbabwe Football Association, and Banna Tchanile, former coach of Togo, the national team of Togo, for bribery and corruption allegations.
“The investigations into the three individuals were initiated in relation to their specific conduct in the organisation of several international friendly matches played in South Africa in 2010,” FIFA said in a statement.
Their cases now go before the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee, chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert, for a verdict and possible sanctions.
The alleged offences relate to warm-up matches South Africa played against Thailand, Bulgaria, Colombia and Guatemala in May 2010 ahead of the World Cup. Convicted Singapore-based match-fixer Wilson Perumal’s company had provided the match officials for the four games and flew in officials from Kenya, Niger and Togo.
South Africa team were awarded two disputed penalties in a 2-1 victory over Colombia in Johannesburg on May 27, 2010. One was ordered to be retaken twice after the initial efforts were saved. Colombia’s goal also came from a penalty. Four days later South Africa were awarded another two spot kicks in a 5-0 win over Guatemala in Polokwane.
The case has already resulted in a number of sanctions with former SAFA chief executive Leslie Sedibe suspended for five years and fined CHF20,000, and Steve Goddard and Adeel Carelse, former SAFA refereeing heads, banned for two years each. Former SAFA executive member and head of referees Lindile Kika was suspended for six years.
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