Nematandani says those found guilty will be dealt with
A match-fixing storm is threatening to cast a shadow over South African football ahead of next week's long-awaited World Cup draw.
While the world's leading football dignitaries will be in Cape Town for the draw on 4 December, local officials will be trying to dampen down allegations of corruption in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
The South African FA (Safa) has been rocked by allegations made by former PSL General Manager Ace Ncobo, who resigned his post on Friday.
After Ncobo failed a lie detector test when answering a question on corruption in the league, the former referee labelled South Africa's domestic football as 'dirty to the core'.
He also claimed to have documents in his possession that could implicate some PSL club officials.
"If I reveal the information I have, the PSL as we know it today will be different," he threatened.
On Wednesday, Safa released a statement promising to press ahead with its 'Zero Tolerance' policy to root out acts of corruption and misconduct.
"When an official who served in a senior position is quoted as saying the league is rotten to the core, and that he possesses a dossier to prove that, it compels us to demand that information to help our investigations," said Safa CEO Raymond Hack.
Ncobo has already received a letter from Safa requesting the facts behind his heavyweight claims, but he reportedly wants assurances before surrendering the information.
Wednesday's Star newspaper says Ncobo will only be forthcoming if Safa assures him that the investigation will not be a 'witch-hunt on referees', as has happened in the past.
Ncobo found himself in hot water after reportedly offering PSL referee Jonas Nhlapo perks in exchange for information implicating Orlando Pirates in bribery.
And once challenged, Ncobo - a former referee himself - offered to undergo a polygraph test to show he was telling the truth.
However, last week, he failed to satisfactorily answer one of the four questions - ironically, the very one he had insisted be included.
We have initiated an investigation on this matter relating to referees, and already we have effected suspensions and in some instances demotions
Safa president Kirsten Nematandani
The former PSL official answered 'no' to a question whether he had asked Nhlapho if he was taking bribes from Pirates, one of South Africa's two biggest clubs.
Ncobo's response was treated as inconclusive with the man who conducted the test saying the failed answer didn't necessarily indicate a lie, as a grey area exists between 'being deceitful or emotional'.
"I have no regret - those who are saying I failed are not right," Ncobo told the media afterwards.
"It was inconclusive as I reacted with anger to the question about Pirates," Ncobo added, explaining his close friendship with club chairman Irvin Khoza.
Meanwhile, Safa president Kirsten Nematandani has said that anyone found guilty of match-fixing will be dealt with hardly in terms of the law.
"The Association has a responsibility to its sponsors, government and most importantly to the players," says Nematandani.
"We have initiated an investigation on this matter relating to referees, and already we have effected suspensions and in some instances demotions.
"For the sake of progress and our resolve to clean up the game, nothing will be swept under the carpet."
Safa will act after receiving Judge Graham Mushwana's report into alleged corruption of referees.
Such claims are not news in South Africa, which was rocked by another match-fixing probe - Operation Dribble - in 2004 with some 30 football officials arrested.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?