FIFA Bans Former SAFA Chief Among Three Officials

Fifa banned three South African football officials by following an investigation into international friendlies prior to the 2010 World Cup. The former South African Football Association chief executive Leslie Sedibe has been banned for five years from any football-related activities. Leslie has also been fined 20,000 Swiss Francs by Fifa’s Ethics Committee.

Steve Goddard and Adeel Carelse who are former SAFA (South African Football Association) referee chiefs have also received two years ban.

The sanctions relate to the proceedings against Safa executive member and head of referees Lindile Kika, who was banned from all football-related activity for six years by Fifa last october.

Fifa ethics committee conducted the investigation and found Sedibe, Goddard and Carelse guilty of infringements of its code of ethics relating to general rules of conduct, loyalty and duty of disclosure cooperation and reporting. Dr. Cornel Borbely, the chairman of the Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee conducted this investigation with the collaboration of Fifa Security Division.

All the bans come into force immediately without any delay. Poobalan Govindasamy, chairman of the Safa ethics committee said that he is glad that the matter has ultimately reached this stage since Safa reported the matter to Fifa almost four years ago though it had dragged on too long. He also added that at Safa they have a zero-tolerance policy for any corrupt activity which impacts negatively on this beautiful game and for that reason they welcome strong measures against any individual who is found guilty of such offenses

The South African Football Association said that they welcomed the sanctions.

15 Mar 2015
Avni S. Singh