Police to probe ‘dirty’ Safa refs

The South African Football Association (Safa) say they are asking the South African Police Service (Saps) to conduct a full investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption involving Safa referees.

TS Galaxy owner Tim Sukazi appeared on Robert Marawa’s radio show, Marawa Sport Worldwide, on Monday, fuming at the refereeing in his side’s 2-1 loss to Real Kings in the Glad Africa Championship at the Kameelrivier Stadium last Saturday.

“Every little incident was going in the opposition’s direction,” said Sukazi.

“Eventually they equalised from all this biased decision-making from the officials,” he added, also claiming his side were denied several penalties during the match.

Sukazi said he wrote to the Premier Soccer League over issues with the same fixture last season, even asking for the game to be replayed, but had received no response from acting chief executive Mato Madlala.

A caller, John, phoned into the show, naming several referees and high-ranking football officials involved in fixing matches in the GladAfrica Championship.

“Let us be clear, the bribery and corruption of referees is a criminal matter and at 4pm this afternoon, we will be having a meeting with the police to put a full investigation team on to this matter,” said Safa president Danny Jordaan yesterday.

“Whether it is a referee, a club official, a journalist, whoever … this we are not going to tolerate. We are also going to write to Fifa and Caf to see if they can provide additional capacity … all the evidence we have has been handed over to the police.”

Jordaan added Safa would not be launching their own investigation because you cannot have parallel investigations.

“If Safa launch an investigation and find differently to the police, what do you do?

“[Plus] they have a greater capacity than us.”