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The Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation welcomes the briefing by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr. Fikile Mbalula, regarding FIFA’s investigation into match-fixing. The Minister briefed the Committee on the challenges facing the government in dealing with the matter.

The Committee has been informed by the Minister that FIFA has made it clear that any involvement by him in the investigation is viewed as interference by the South African government and will result in SAFA’s suspension from FIFA.

The Committee also welcomes the commitment from Minister Mbalula, despite the challenges, to write to FIFA to seek an update on the status of the investigation and to request time frames for completion of the investigation and to report back to the Committee as soon as possible. “As the Committee, we are committed to fighting corruption in sport. This match-fixing scandal has serious implications on our integrity as a country,” says Committee Chairperson, Ms Beauty Dlulane.

The Committee is concerned that if this matter is not resolved, the country will always be tainted by this match-fixing scandal.

Issued by the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation