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FIFA investigators arrive in SA

Johannesburg - South African Football Association president, Kirsten Nematandani welcomed the FIFA delegation upon their arrival in South Africa to commence the Southern Africa leg of their global investigation into match fixing.

The FIFA delegation is led by Chris Eaton and the fieldwork phase is expected to take four days during which time they will engage with a number of key individuals.

In addition FIFA will have open access to SAFA's records that are relevant to the enquiry which is centered on the refereeing and outcome of the four friendly games that Bafana Bafana played in the final build up to the World Cup.

After careful consideration SAFA intervened and appointed their own officials, to replace the international referees recruited and supplied by Footbal4U, for the fifth and final friendly versus Denmark.

"We are doing all we can to help FIFA resolve the issue regarding the Bafana games and to do all in our power to wipe out corrupt practices in football in South Africa, if there is any," said Nematandani.

"Anyone who has not already been contacted but who believes that they have material evidence to offer are invited to urgently contact my office", added SAFA CEO, Robin Petersen.

The names of the individuals who are meeting with FIFA are not being made available to the media and neither is the media invited to the 'in-camera' sessions in order to protect the integrity of the process.

"We have complete confidence in the integrity and thoroughness of the FIFA process and will assist in whatever way we can to get to the truth. We would also like to emphasise that SAFA is not, at this stage, undertaking a parallel process either internally or through an independent body.

"We trust that all parties will respect the FIFA process and allow it to reach its logical conclusion", concluded Petersen.

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