MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG– THE Federation of International Football Associations has banned several South African officials for their alleged involvement in matches played by the host country ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

The adjudicatory chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee, chaired by Hans Joachim Eckert, has implemented the ban.

Among those banned include South African Football Association (SAFA) Chief Executive Officer at the time, Leslie Sedibe. He has been slapped with a five-year suspension from taking part in any football-related activities for five years and a fine of Francs 20 000.

Furthermore, the former officials Steve Goddard and Adeel Carelse were both also found guilty of violating articles of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE). They each received bans of two years.

The investigation, initiated on November 2014, against (former) football officials of the South African Football Association (SAFA) were conducted by Dr Cornel Borbély, chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, in collaboration with the FIFA Security Division.

They relate to the proceedings against Lindile Kika which were decided in October 2015. Mr Kika was banned from all football-related activities for six years by the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee.