South Africa: FIFA begins probes of match-fixing cases

FIFA has commenced proceedings against ex-South Africa football chief Kirsten Nematandani and two officials.

Mr. Nematandani is being charged with allegations of fixing international friendly matches in 2010, according to FIFA.

Others charged alongside Nematandani are:

1. Former Zimbabwe Football Association official Jonathan Musavengana and,

2. Former Togo national team coach Bana Tchanile.

The adjudicatory chamber of global soccer body FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee said it opened cases against the trio.

A FIFA investigator had earlier proposed at least a six-year ban and 10,000 Swiss franc ($10,340) fine for Nematandani over alleged ethics violations.

The investigator, Djimbaraye Bourngar, had also recommended life bans for Musavengana and Tchanile for alleged bribery and corruption violations.

The three officials will now be invited to submit their positions and may request a hearing, the adjudicatory chamber said in a statement.

Tchanile has already been banned from soccer for three years by his national federation.

He had taken a team masquerading as the Togo national side to play a friendly with Bahrain in 2010.

Investigations by FIFA have concentrated on warm-up matches South Africa played against Thailand, Bulgaria, Colombia and Guatemala in May 2010 ahead of the World Cup which the country hosted.

Match-fixing is often organised by betting syndicates who make money by correctly gambling on the result of the game they have manipulated.

South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010. 

The bidding process for hosting the tournament finals was open only to African nations.

In 2004, the international football federation, FIFA, selected South Africa over Egypt and Morocco to become the first African nation to host the finals.

The matches were played in 10 stadiums in nine host cities around the country.

The final was played at the Soccer City stadium in South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg.

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