‘No matter Is closed’: Gayton McKenzie slams SAFA over Bafana qualification chaos
Not closed: Sports minister Gayton McKenzie refuses to close the book on Bafana Bafana's chaotic World Cup qualification campaign. Photo: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has insisted that his department will ensure the South African Football Association is held accountable for the blunder that nearly cost Bafana Bafana their place at next year’s World Cup.
After a strong qualifying campaign, Bafana’s hopes were thrown into turmoil when the team was docked three points by FIFA for fielding an ineligible Teboho Mokoena in a game against Lesotho in March.
Mokoena had picked up two yellow cards in previous matches and was meant to serve a suspension against Lesotho. The points deduction saw Bafana surrender top spot in the group to Benin, putting their qualification hopes out of their hands.
However, earlier this week, the stars aligned perfectly for Hugo Broos and his men as they beat Rwanda 3-0 in Mbombela, while Benin lost 4-0 to Nigeria, booking South Africa’s place at next year’s global showpiece in North America. The results meant that South Africa qualified as group winners.
Speaking after Bafana’s qualification, SAFA president Danny Jordaan said they had moved on and were looking ahead instead.
“The matter is closed. We are not interested in the matter... We are focused on AFCON and the World Cup,” Jordaan told journalists.
McKenzie, however, did not agree with Jordaan.
“We can’t leave this matter unattended. What have we learned from this?” the minister wrote on his official X account. “We are a country with rules, and Brand SA was hurt tremendously by this blunder. No matter is closed – it’s opening now.”
It remains to be seen what McKenzie and his department can do as government interference in the affairs of a national football association is strictly forbidden by FIFA and is viewed as a serious violation of the organisation's statutes.
FIFA's principle of non-interference demands that its member associations, like SAFA, manage their affairs independently and without the influence of third parties, which explicitly includes the government.
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