By Andrew Warshaw
March 18 – The South African authorities have accused FIFA’s ethics committee of reneging on a promise to consult with them before making public any decisions regarding the notorious pre-2010 World Cup match-fixing case.
Earlier this week three officials were banned over their role in rigging a string of international friendlies in the build-up to the tournament, the culmination of a case that has been dragging on for several years.
Leslie Sedibe, former South African Football Association (SAFA) chief executive, was the most high profile of the three and received a five-year ban plus a SFr20,000 fine. Two former SAFA refereeing department officials, Steve Goddard and Adeel Carelse, each received two-year bans.
But South Africa’s sports minister Fikile Mbalula claims FIFA’s chief ethics investigator Cornel Borbely jumped the gun in announcing the verdicts before letting his own officials know.
“I have been part of numerous deputations and made numerous submissions to FIFA appealing for the acceleration of the perennial investigations as they were causing double jeopardy to the good name of our country and to the football loving people at home and abroad,” Mbalula told reporters.
“During my most recent meeting with the Chairman of the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, Dr Cornel Borbely in Zurich, in the presence of the President of SAFA Dr Danny Jordan, I persisted with my plea for acceleration and bringing the matter to closure so that South African citizens fingered in the investigation can either be cleared or face the consequences of the own action.”
“Dr Borbely assured me that the investigation was proceeding well and made a firm undertaking that he will inform me of the outcomes of the investigations as soon as they were folded.
“Regrettably …Borbely did not honour his undertaking as he announced on the 14th of March 2016 the sanctioning of three South African citizens. Given my personal proximity to the issue at hand, I was taken aback by the announcement of the sanction as it was not in keeping with our agreement.
“As the Ministry we take affront to this unhelpful way of conducting business. We are not asking for favours or patronage. We are here for accountability, transparency, democracy and respect of our sovereignty.
“I have informed Dr Borbely of my disappointment and disapproval of his modus operandi and requested that the South African Government be furnished with the report and outcomes of the investigation as agreed at our last meeting.”
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