Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE SOCCER INCIDENT BETWEEN ALLEGED STAFF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION AND THE IRISH EMBASSY
The South African High Commission would like to respond to media reports alleging that South African diplomats were involved in a soccer incident against the Irish Embassy's soccer team at Chiswick on Saturday, 18 October 1997.
The High Commission would like to point out, and without fear of contradiction, that no South African diplomats or locally recruited staff members were involved in the reported incident. The team that represented South Africa consisted of UK volunteer players who are friends of locally recruited staff members of the High Commission.
Accordingly the High Commission is investigating the matter with the Social Club of the High Commission and appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken. The soccer team has been in existence for more than four years and this is the first time an incident of this nature has occurred. The Social Club soccer team has been withdrawn from the rest of the league, with immediate effect, until further notice.
The High Commission regrets that its name and reputation has been associated with the incident and finds behaviour of this nature unacceptable. The High Commissioner will convey a collegial apology to the Embassy of the Republic of Ireland.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION, LONDON 24 OCTOBER 1997