South Africa was "plunged into crisis" just a month before it hosts the African Nations Cup finals with the suspension of its football association president and other top officials following a report into match fixing involving the national team, according to Mark Gleeson of REUTERS. South African FA President Kirsten Nematandani, new CEO Dennis Mumble and its top refereeing officials "have been suspended indefinitely." The suspension follows the handing over Friday by FIFA to SAFA of a 500-page report "investigating the activities" of convicted Singapore match fixer Wilson Raj Perumal and his Football 4U organization. Outgoing CEO Robin Petersen said, "These suspensions were necessary for good governance and for allowing this matter to be thoroughly and properly investigated" (REUTERS, 12/17).
THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM: GOAL's Ian Malcolm wrote FIFA issued its initial report on the matches last week and an emergency committee from the SAFA held a meeting on Sunday where it "considered and accepted the report as received." SAFA has essentially acknowledged its guilt in the matter and will now "seek to root out" the individuals within the organization who the associations feels are responsible (GOAL, 12/17). SUNDAY WORLD's Kgomotso Sethusha wrote even though "further examination" of the report is yet to take place, the "explosive document" has left SAFA officials on "tenterhooks." A SAFA official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the match-fixers "could not have acted alone." The official said, "The report identifies SAFA officials and the impression out there is that the association harbours criminals and corrupt elements. SAFA is definitely going to take action against those involved and send out a strong message" (SUNDAY WORLD, 12/16).
