Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie has warned SAFA of potential consequences, should Bafana fail to qualify for Afcon and World Cup. Photo: Michael Sherman / IOL
Following Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie's remarks warning of potential consequences at SAFA, should Bafana Bafana fail to qualify for Afcon and World Cup, Department spokesperson Cassiday Rangata-Jacobs has insisted that the minister's interventions will be within the bounds of the law.
Speaking to the media last week, despite FIFA laws against political interference in football matters, McKenzie stated that he had issued SAFA with a directive to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup or he would find people who can get the job done.
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“I said to them: ‘Qualify for the World Cup, qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.’ I’m giving them all the support now, but I can’t be giving people support until kingdom come, who are not performing.
“I’m going to make sure I’m public about it; they know it, and I know it. For now, they have my support, but soon, if they don’t qualify, we must get people that will qualify.”
However, his spokesperson Rangata-Jacobs has clarified that the minister’s interventions at SAFA, if any, will be within the bounds of the law.
“The minister’s interventions, if any, will at all times be within the bounds of the law and limits against political interference,” Rangata-Jacobs told IOL.
Articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes state that member organisations shall run their affairs without outside influence.
The world’s football governing body has in the past banned countries, such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Pakistan because of political interference.
Approached for comment by IOL Sport, SAFA spokesperson, Mninawa Ntloko stated that the organisations had no comments about what the minister had to say.
“We have no comment,’ he said.
IOL Sport