OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Monday 3.45pm.
A REPORT on the state of South African soccer compiled by the sport’s administrators was presented to government on Monday following an ultimatum issued last year to soccer administrators to clean up their act.
Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour met in Cape Town with South African Football Association chief executive Raymond Hack and other senior soccer administrators who handed over reports on Safa and its professional arm, the Premier Soccer League.
Controversy threatened to blow the sport apart last year when a dispute surrounding the Rothmans Cup competition saw clashes between top PSL officials.
In November, Balfour called on soccer officials in Safa and the PSL to clean up the sport by January 31, or face government intervention.
Balfour said if systems to clean up soccer are not implemented, government may resort to legislation to regulate the sport.
Balfour’s primary concern is that disputes between club owners and PSL chief executive Joe Ndhlela will impact negatively on South Africa’s bid to stage the 2006 World Cup.