Premier Soccer League (PSL) executive members have not been paid commission for their part in the R1,6-billion television rights deal or the R500-million Absa sponsorship deal, it was announced on Tuesday.
The PSL had not even formally decided yet whether it would pay its negotiators any commission at all, its chairperson Irvin Khoza said after an emergency meeting of the executive committee.
The urgent talks were called after Finance Minister Trevor Manuel criticised as ”morally reprehensible and corrupt” the payment of commission to soccer officials involved in the two deals.
”My understanding is that individuals are elected onto the league’s various committees to serve the interests of the sport, not in the expectation of acquiring personal fortunes to the detriment of the organisation they are representing,” Manuel wrote in an open letter to Absa chief executive officer Steve Booysen.
Khoza said the PSL had not discussed commission with Absa, nor had it asked Absa to pay commission as part of the sponsorship deal.
No money had yet changed hands. All that had transpired was the signing of ”heads of agreement” on the terms of the sponsorship.
The PSL had noted ”with concern” recent statements on the payment of commission — some of which were ”defamatory”, it said in a statement read by Khoza.
Describing the remarks as ”offensive”, it said they were ”premature and unfortunate”, and not fully informed.
”Payment [of commission] is a work in progress. No final decision was been taken. No final payments have been made.”
The process was being undertaken in line with requirements for good corporate governance, under the oversight of auditors and in terms of the PSL’s constitution.
This stated that PSL funds be utilised in pursuit of its objectives and not for personal gain except for, among others, the payment of employees or contractors to carry out special tasks.
Khoza could not give an indication of when a decision on commission would be made. ”A lot of things are happening. I can’t give a time,” he said.
A recording of a November 2006 meeting of the PSL board of governors showed that while they agreed in principle with the concept of paying internal negotiators commission — as opposed to paying an outside firm — the modality had to be worked out.
Khoza emphasised that no matter what the final decision, ”no executive committee member will be entitled to commission”.
”Spare us our sanity. Spare us our integrity. Wait until we make the necessary announcement at the appropriate time,” he said.
Khoza said Manuel had been informed of the issue of payment of commission prior to the publication of his letter.
Asked why Manuel had then spoken out so strongly and whether he had a vendetta, Khoza replied that this was why he had requested a copy of Manuel’s letter. He did not want to say things ”out of turn”.
”Mr Manuel, I respect. He’s got struggle credentials. He’s done very well for the country.
”He may be having information at his disposal that enabled him to make such pronouncements,” said Khoza.
He was ”disappointed” at not being asked to comment on the letter, or being provided with a copy. – Sapa