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South Africans not victims of global syndicates in football: minister

Xinhua, March 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Africa will not allow its African citizens to be victims of global syndicates and subjects of unfair treatment by global bodies that show no regard to the sovereignty of the state, Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula said on Thursday.

He made the statement after FIFA lawyers wrote to three prominent football administrators in South Africa, requesting them to answer a barrage of questions on short notice about a corruption scandal.

"Though the three eminent South Africans expressed their willingness to me to co-operate with the investigators and FIFA lawyers, I have written to the Minister of Justice and Correctional service to request his intervention by forcing these capricious lawyers from undermining South African sovereignty and work through the relevant law enforcement agencies and diplomatic channels when dealing with our citizens," Mbalula said.

FIFA on Wednesday issued a statement indicating that they lodged a claim in a US Court to recover money from the individuals who abused their positions as FIFA representatives by misappropriating funds.

FIFA alleges that the individuals funnelled money allocated for football projects to their personal accounts. One of the items listed as part of the restitution claim is the $10 million dollars that were allocated for the African Diaspora and the Caribbean region.

The South African government maintains its position that the African Diaspora Legacy Programme was a legitimate programme of the South African government, Mbalula said.

The government will not apologise for this progressive stance to the African Diaspora and for including the Diaspora in the pride and honour of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he said.

"To infer or insinuate anything else, including diminishing such an important part of the African continent's history as an elaborate ruse to issue a bribe, is despicable," the minister said.

The South African government considers it an insult to reduce one of its hallmark programmes that recognised the struggles and achievements of African people around the world to a mere caricature and incubator for bribery, he noted.

The minister reiterated its earlier statement that the 10 million US dollars were approved with the understanding that the funds be utilised either by FIFA for benefits of its member associations and to benefit the Caribbean region.

He said he has received a confirmation letter from the South African Football Association (SAFA) stating that the matter was above aboard and was approved by FIFA.

"It is now ludicrous and insane for FIFA to seek to cast an aspersion on our country by suggesting that we were are part of a syndicate to defraud and to corrupt our officials and businesses involved in football," said the minister.

FIFA must apologise for this insult, he added.

"South Africa did not pay a bribe, nor did it conspire to illegally attain the rights to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup," the minister reaffirmed. Endit