By Mark Zuma,
The South African Football Association has taken note of an allegation, purportedly made by Mr Leslie Sedibe, former SAFA CEO, as published in Sunday newspapers.
In so far as the allegation around the alleged request to the Guptas,
SAFA restates that the budget approved by FIFA for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was
$423m from the start and remained as such to the end of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup.
The LOC was fully funded by FIFA
and was bound by a regulatory framework including governance oversight by a
board of directors. This information has been released to the public and news
organisations on multiple occasions and the facts remain unchanged. NO
deduction from the LOC budget ever occurred.
The “hole” that is being referred to in the statements in the Sunday
Newspapers in the LOC budget is a fabrication. EY confirmed that the approved
budget of the LOC was never reduced. In a letter to SAFA from FIFA dated 20
February 2013 FIFA states “The financial statements of the LOC have been
subjected to audit for each year of operation and have been submitted to, and
approved by, the AGM of the LOC on each occasion with an unqualified audit
opinion.
Furthermore, the overall results of the LOC were included in the FIFA
Financial Report 2010, which report was submitted to and approved by the 61st
FIFA Congress in 2011. For the avoidance of doubt FIFA has at no time been
aware of anything other than full compliance with the governance structures of
the LOC in respect to all LOC financial transactions”.
The allegation of a loan to close the “hole” is therefore unfounded,
false and misleading. SAFA and Dr Jordaan reserve their rights in this matter,
and will will seek to take the necessary legal action against Leslie Sedibe, if
it is found that the currently unsigned complaint in SAFA’s possession is
deemed to be authorised by him.
