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Johannesburg - SAFA have confirmed that Benni McCarthy will face no punishment after snubbing a press conference on Tuesday.
The Bafana Bafana striker, who has been the centre of attention due to his fitness concerns, was scheduled to address local hacks, but had to be replaced by Matthew Booth at the 11th hour.
The national association claim a personal problem prevented the West Ham ace from fulfilling his obligation.
"I don't condone what Benni did, but I am not condemning him," said SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe.
"Something happened that disturbed him that morning ... but he will be available on Saturday.
"The incident is regrettable. All I am saying is, let's give Benni a chance."
Bafana team manager Dennis Mumble added: "It was a personal issue. I had to make phone calls to Cape Town and Johannesburg about an issue. When a person has an issue like this, I am not going to put it out in front of you."
However, media reports claimed McCarthy refused to speak to the press after being labelled fat in almost every South African publication.
This was after Bafana's physical trainer, Francisco Gonzalez was quoted by Brazilian newspaper O Globo as saying: "Ultimately it will be up to him to make a supreme effort because currently his body fat is too high.
"His physical state is inferior to the other players and that is not good."
However, Sedibe claimed: "I am not sure what took place between the Brazilian journalist and our fitness trainer Francisco Gonzalez, but he denied telling the Brazilian newspaper that the player was fat."
The Bafana Bafana striker, who has been the centre of attention due to his fitness concerns, was scheduled to address local hacks, but had to be replaced by Matthew Booth at the 11th hour.
The national association claim a personal problem prevented the West Ham ace from fulfilling his obligation.
"I don't condone what Benni did, but I am not condemning him," said SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe.
"Something happened that disturbed him that morning ... but he will be available on Saturday.
"The incident is regrettable. All I am saying is, let's give Benni a chance."
Bafana team manager Dennis Mumble added: "It was a personal issue. I had to make phone calls to Cape Town and Johannesburg about an issue. When a person has an issue like this, I am not going to put it out in front of you."
However, media reports claimed McCarthy refused to speak to the press after being labelled fat in almost every South African publication.
This was after Bafana's physical trainer, Francisco Gonzalez was quoted by Brazilian newspaper O Globo as saying: "Ultimately it will be up to him to make a supreme effort because currently his body fat is too high.
"His physical state is inferior to the other players and that is not good."
However, Sedibe claimed: "I am not sure what took place between the Brazilian journalist and our fitness trainer Francisco Gonzalez, but he denied telling the Brazilian newspaper that the player was fat."
