By Andrew Warshaw
November 18 – Frustrated with South Africa’s continual refusal to put its own house in order, FIFA’s ethics committee prosecutor Michael Garcia has opened an investigation into allegations of match-fixing in friendlies in the lead-up to the 2010 World Cup.
FIFA, which has increasingly been getting tough on match-fixing, said Garcia “has decided to open a preliminary investigation on the alleged cases of match-manipulation in South Africa in view of the time elapsed” since the country promised its own probe.
FIFA found strong evidence that friendlies played in the host country just weeks ahead of the World Cup were fixed, allegedly with the involvement of referees colluding with illegal Asian betting syndicates.
Although the games have not been identified, the allegations centred on international friendlies against Thailand, Bulgaria, Colombia and Guatemala, all of which have long been under suspicion because of a number of questionable decisions including several penalties for handball.
Almost two years ago, five senior South African Football Association officials – including then SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani – were suspended over alleged match rigging but were suddenly re-instated ahead of South Africa hosting the African Nations Cup in January and February this year.
Last week South Africa sports minister Fikile Mbalula accused FIFA of meddling in the country’s affairs but the world governing body responded by saying it was authorised to investigate under its ethics code “if associations fail to prosecute potential breaches of that code.”
Mbalula was the man who led the South African delegation that met with FIFA in April when it was agreed that South Africa would act. As part of that agreement, FIFA asked for Garcia to be included on the commission.
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