South Africa says it did not bribe FIFA to win World Cup 2010 bid

Thursday, 17 March 2016 17:08

South African businessman and International Federation of the Football Association (FIFA) candidate to the presidency Tokyo Sexwale, arrives for a press conference on October 27, 2015 at the South African football Association (SAFA) headquarters in Johann

South Africa says it did not bribe FIFA to win the right to host the World Cup 2010. Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula made the comments following football’s governing body’s claim that the country paid it $10 million (AED 37 million) to host the tournament. Mbalula also called on FIFA to retract its statement. The body sought compensation from its former executive committee members it said had accepted bribes in the awarding of World Cup hosting rights. Mbalula added that South Africa paid money to a legacy project in the African Diaspora in the Caribbean.

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