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S. African Football Association denies bribe allegations on WC bidding

Xinhua, May 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Allegations that South Africa bribed to a former FIFA vice president to win its 2010 World Cup hosting were unfounded, South African Football Association (SAFA) said on Wednesday.

This declaration came after the U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Wednesday that the former FIFA vice president Jack Warner solicited bribes from the South African government to host the 2010 World Cup. The amount of the bribes was allegedly 10 million dollars.

The SAFA responded in an official statement that the charges of racketeering, conspiracy as well as corruption faced by FIFA officials, and which also implicate the 2010 World Cup, have nothing to do with the actual event and are inclusive of the service providers responsible with delivering the event rather.

"These corruption and racketeering charges have got nothing to do with the actual 2010 World Cup. At the moment the details are sketchy, but the charges mainly pertain to the service providers and broadcasting rights," explains SAFA Communications Manager Dominic Chimhavi.

"We are disappointed at the allegations ... they are baseless and untested and we request proof from anyone who has evidence to the contrary to come forward," said Chimhavi.

"Also people need to note that the charges also implicate several other World Cups, and FIFA events, and not just the World Cup here in South Africa," he added.

"Those are just allegations. No one is being investigated here," Chimhavi said.

The U.S. released indictment claimed that the 10-million-dollar-bribe payment was sent from FIFA using funds that would otherwise have gone from FIFA to South Africa.

"A FIFA official wired the payment in January and March 2008 from a FIFA account in Switzerland through New York to be credited into accounts controlled by Warner," the indictment said.

"Soon after receiving these wire transfers, the defendant Jack Warner caused a substantial portion of the funds to be diverted for his personal use," the indictment alleged.

"Around 2004, bidding began for the opportunity to host the 2010 World Cup, which was ultimately awarded to South Africa, the first time the tournament would be held on the African continent," Lynch said. Endi