Oliphant was concerned about match-fixing allegations

Hellenic team chief Dumisani Ndlovu and other officials were being sought as part of the investigation dubbed "Operation Dribble".

Police spokeswoman Sally de Beer said: "There is a charge of intimidation. We have got a warrant of arrest for him and we are looking for him."

De Beer said more arrests were expected in a scandal that has rocked South African football to its foundations.

"We are still busy in two provinces at the moment, so we're hoping to make more arrests," she said.

The nine referees in custody have been charged with bribery and are to appear in a Johannesburg court on Monday and Tuesday.

A task team headed by provincial police commissioner, Afrika Khumalo, and consisting of several detectives, began the investigation two months ago at the request of the South African Football Association President Molefi Oliphant.

Oliphant has said he was concerned by a steady stream of news reports of alleged match-fixing in the country's first division and had asked for the investigation.

Police said their investigation centred around first division matches but also hinted they were looking at games in the premier league.

Africa's most lucrative professional league which attracts more than $15 million in annual sponsorship.