SAFA welcomes arrest of ref

Johannesburg - South African referee Clifford Malgas appeared in a Soweto court on Thursday charged with perjury and corruption related to lower-league promotion play-offs.

Malgas last year testified against former national team assistant coach Phil Setshedi, who was jailed for 36 months.

But crack crime unit the Hawks allege Malgas lied in court and was involved with Setshedi in unsuccessfully trying to fix play-offs.

Setshedi, who also coached at famous Soweto club Orlando Pirates, was trapped in a restaurant 'sting' with a policeman posing as a referee.

South African Football Association (SAFA) chief executive Dennis Mumble welcomed the arrest of Malgas, who will appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court again next Monday.

"It is the outcome of collaboration between SAFA and the Hawks and investigations are continuing into other suspected illegal and corrupt football activities."