Match-fixing drama at Safa House
Rivals Orange Vaal behind picket during Safa hearing
The alleged match-fixing case involving ABC Motsepe League side Maccabi got off to a dramatic start at the SA Football Association (Safa) offices yesterday.
Maccabi, who were crowned champions of Gauteng recently, were appearing before Safa’s disciplinary committee for the first time.
The drama unfolded outside Safa House where people wearing different PSL club jerseys were demanding that Safa must do something about the corruption in the lower league.
It is alleged that a player and official from Maccabi offered two Vaal Professionals players R2 000 to throw the game last month. Police arrested the player and the official.
Maccabi won that match 3-1 and eventually became champions, while Vaal Professionals finished 12th. Second-placed Orange Vaal Professionals (not to be confused with Vaal Professionals) have now been accused by Safa of trying to influence the DC hearing for their own benefit.
Orange Vaal Professionals (on 61 points) can finish top of the log if Maccabi are docked the three points they got in their 3-1 win over Vaal Professionals.
If Maccabi are expelled from the league, third-placed JDR Stars (also on 61 points) are going to be elevated to top spot. In case of an expulsion, all teams that won points from Maccabi are going to lose them.
Safa legal manager Tebogo Motlanthe confirmed that one of those that picketed outside let slip that they had been sent by Orange Vaal Professionals owner Solly Mkhabela to put pressure on the DC to make a ruling against Maccabi that could favour them.
“There is an allegation that Maccabi tried to bribe a player of Vaal Professionals,” Motlanthe told Sowetan.
“There are two scenarios: if the DC deduct points, Orange Vaal wins and if they expel them, JDR wins... I can safely say Orange Vaal went and mobilised people to say go to Safa House with placards “.
Mkhabela, however, stated he no longer runs the club and therefore, was not the one behind the picketing. "I'm not the one in charge,” he claimed.