FIFA bans S. African officials over match-fixing

FIFA’s ethics watchdog on Monday banned a former South African football chief, Leslie Sedibe, for five years after an inquiry into match-fixing surrounding the national team.

Sedibe, who was South African Football Association chief executive for one year including through the 2010 World Cup hosted by the country was also fined 20,000 Swiss francs (18,200 euros/$20,000).

Two former referees officials, Steve Goddard and Adeel Carelse, were also banned for two years by FIFA’s ethics committee adjudicator chamber.

All were found guilty of breaches of conduct and disclosure. But FIFA did not give details of the case.

It said only that the three cases were linked to “international friendly matches played in South Africa in 2010” before the World Cup.

Another former SAFA referees chief, Lindile Kika, was banned for six year in October 2015 for his role in the match-fixing inquiry.

Kika was one of five senior SAFA officials, including the former president Kirsten Nematandani, put on ‘special leave’ in December 2012 following a FIFA report into match-fixing.

They were reinstated in January 2013 but not cleared of any wrongdoing. All have since left SAFA.

A 2012 FIFA investigation looked into South Africa’s friendly matches before the 2012 World Cup against Thailand, Bulgaria, Colombia and Guatemala.

It produced a 500-page report that documented the activities of convicted Singapore-based match-fixer Wilson Perumal and his Football 4U organisation.