South African Football Association (Safa) boss Raymond Hack had to undergo surgery to his eye after being assaulted in a robbery at his home in Waverley, Johannesburg, the association said on Tuesday.
Hack told the police he was alone at home on Monday and woke for gym at 5am to find two bedroom lights on in the house, said police spokesperson Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht.
On investigation, he discovered ”someone” in one of the rooms.
”That was when the assault took place,” said Engelbrecht.
His eye was hurt because he was wearing his glasses during the skirmish, said Safa spokesperson Morio Sanyane.
He said Hack underwent minor eye surgery at the Linksfield Clinic on Monday and was discharged that night.
He laid charges of house robbery and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm at the Norwood Police Station on Tuesday, said Engelbrecht.
She could not say what was taken in the robbery.
Sanyane said the police had since taken fingerprints from Hack’s home.
Hack himself would not comment on the attack.
The 2010 Soccer World Cup local organising committee expressed its condolences to Hack and his family at a press conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Hack is the second prominent soccer official to have fallen victim to crime in less then a week.
Kaizer Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung’s teenage daughter and three domestic workers were attacked by robbers at his home at Houghton in Johannesburg last week. — Sapa