21 February 2019 – On 14 March 2016, the world football governing body, FIFA, banned former SAFA CEO, Leslie Sedibe for five years and fined him CHF20 000. This followed a FIFA probe into match fixing.

The world governing body’s statement then read: “FIFA has confirmed banning Leslie Sedibe for five years and a fine of CHF20 000.”

Subsequent to this, in June 2016 Mr Leslie Sedibe instituted legal proceedings against SAFA claiming an amount of R5 million in damages. The basis for his claim was an allegation that two former SAFA officials defamed him with regards to the FIFA matter.

The matter was set down for hearing on Friday 22 February 2019.  However, earlier this week, Mr Sedibe’s legal team requested that the matter be postponed.

SAFA agreed to this request.  The root cause of the postponement was that in January 2019 – more than two and half years after first launching the case – Mr Sedibe materially changed the nature of his claim against SAFA. The case was therefore not properly ready to proceed.

As the matter is pending before the courts, we do not consider it appropriate to comment on the particulars. It suffices to say that SAFA is confident that Mr Sedibe’s case is without merit and, when it eventually is heard, his claim will be dismissed.

SAFA therefore looks forward to the hearing of the matter in due course.