Please follow and like us:

By Ndumiso Mlilo.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa. (News Of The South) – The South African Sport and Recreation Minister, Fikile Mbalula on Thursday vehemently denied that his government paid a bribe to host the 2010 World Cup.

Mbalula was addressing the media on Thursday where he strongly denied bribery allegations. This follows FIFA’s accusation of South Africa for paying a US$10 million bribe to buy the right to host the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday. Mbalula said, “South Africa did not pay a bribe, nor did it conspire to illegally attain the rights to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is now ludicrous and insane for FIFA to seek to cast an aspersion on our country by suggesting that we were are part a syndicate to defraud and to corrupt our officials and businesses involved in football.”

He stated that the South African government has not investigated the match fixing allegations to avoid dual investigations. Mbalula said they are waiting for an official report from FIFA to take action against individual South Africans implicated in the scandal.

The minister said, “Now that the investigations have been finalised, the South African government is requesting FIFA to furnish us with the report in order decide on the course of action to be taken.”

South Africa is accused of paying the money through the former FIFA vice president from the Caribbean, Jack Warner. South Africa insists that the money was for funding African Diaspora and the Caribbean region. FIFA have demanded the refund of the US$10 million to its coffers. He also 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. FIFA must apologise for this insult. ”

Mbalula stated that he has asked SAFA to urgently arrange a meeting with FIFA to iron out the matter. He also said.

Please follow and like us:

Comments

comments