Mbalula: Match fixing probe in the hands of Fifa
It’s been nearly two years since Safa was implicated in a global match fixing scandal.
CAPE TOWN - Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula says the investigation into alleged match fixing related to Bafana Bafana games is entirely in the hands of Fifa.
Mbalula appeared before Parliament's Sport Portfolio Committee today to give an update on the investigation.
Mbalula says neither he nor his department can do anything to speed up the process headed by football governing body Fifa.
It's been nearly two years since South African Football Association (Safa) was implicated in a global football match fixing scandal.
Fifa launched a probe into the matter, but Mbalula says he has had no feedback from the organisation.
He says Safa could face Fifa suspension if government were to interfere in football matters.
But he added that as government, they will request an update from Fifa.
Last month, former Safa president Kirsten Nematandani told EWN Sport that Fifa's failure to contact him with regard to their investigation of alleged match-fixing in Bafana Bafana games in 2010 was doing further harm to his reputation.
Bafana fixtures against Colombia, Guatemala, Thailand and Bulgaria were all placed under investigation following the revelation that a company linked to convicted bookmaker Wilson Raj Perumal, Football4U, was contracted to appoint match officials for those games.
These matches all occurred while Nematandani was Safa president.
