Mbalula rejects Fifa bribery allegations with ‘contempt they deserve’
Sports minister Fikile Mbalula yesterday reprimanded US authorities for disregarding diplomatic channels and announcing South Africa’s alleged involvement in the Fifa corruption scandal before informing the South African government first.
The nation was left reeling this week after the Americans alleged that ‘‘high-ranking South African officials“ offered a $10-million bribe to help secure the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
South Africa eventually edged fierce rivals Morocco during the tense voting process for the tournament in Zurich‚ Switzerland‚ in May 2004 and went on to win by 14 votes to 10.
Mbalula said on Thursday the government only found out about South Africa’s alleged involvement in the biggest scandal to rock the football governing body through newspapers and international wire services‚ and not through the proper channels as should have been the case.
He argued that South Africa was ‘‘not a small fish in the world” and must be respected.
Mbalula said “there is nothing that implicates the South African government” in the alleged bribery‚ “and we reject those allegations with the contempt they deserve”.
‘‘We are‚ however‚ saying to the American government we will follow up on the matter through the diplomatic channels we have activated through international relations and co-operation to establish how SA is implicated. Anything else is speculation.”
Several arrests were made this week and more are expected to follow as those already behind bars cut deals that expose fellow conspirators.
Controversial former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner‚ from Trinidad and Tobago‚ has emerged as a central figure in the allegations and his close ties with SA have now come under close scrutiny.
The US indictment referred to two South Africans being involved in the corruption — named Co-Conspirator No15 and Co-Conspirator No16. Their names were not made public but the indictment alleged that they were part of South Africa’s 2006 and 2010 World Cup Bid Committees.
Mbalula was unfazed by all this and insisted that South Africa could not react to what he said is mere speculation when the US has not given them a copy of the indictment.
‘‘In this particular instance‚ the proper established channels between governments must be activated to respect the sovereignty of our nation and the pride of our people and the dignity of the South African people.”
Mbalula said the allegations have the potential to tarnish South Africa’s image and affect the country’s chances of hosting other major events in the future.
Durban is bidding to hosts the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the decision will be announced on September 2.
‘‘These allegations‚ loosely thrown‚ have the potential to undermine our hosting of mega events in the future and the credibility of a nation like South Africa‚” Mbalula said.
‘‘The Commonwealth bidding process is not affected because there is no bribery going on there as we speak now. We are very clear about the processes‚ it is a clean process and we are on course in regards to the bidding.
‘‘It could only be affected by those who wanted to bid and failed. They would want to use these allegations and speculation to undermine South Africa’s standing.”
The Fifa presidential election is expected to go ahead as planned for Friday.
Beleaguered Fifa president Sepp Blatter‚ who is not under any investigation at the moment‚ is expected to win a fifth four-year term.
He is expected to see off Jordan rival Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein without so much as breaking a sweat‚ despite the murky cloud circling overhead.