A letter, which may show that South African authorities tried to hide the way it paid $10m to FIFA, is genuine.
The South African government has confirmed that the letter – published in the South African media on Friday – is real, but insists that the payment was legitimate.
The letter, from South African FA (SAFA) chief Danny Jordaan to FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke in December 2007, was sent three weeks before the first payment was made.
The money was sent from FIFA to an account controlled by disgraced former CONCACAF president Jack Warner following the request from SAFA to Valcke.
Warner's former deputy Chuck Blazer has testified in court that the cash was a bribe for their votes for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup.
The South Africans maintain that the money was to support football in the ‘African diaspora’ in the Caribbean.
The Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, Fikile Mbalula, dismissed an article in South Africa’s Mail & Guardian newspaper, which claimed the letter proved bribes were paid.
A statement from his department said: “We reject the Mail & Guardian article that frames an honest correspondence between SAFA and FIFA [as] proof of bribery with contempt that it deserves; it is nothing else but regurgitation and sensation.
“Minister Mbalula reiterates his call to the media to desist from sensational reporting. We remain concerned at the ongoing media speculation which only plays into the hands of those whose objective is to tarnish the good name and integrity of our country.
“As a government and people of South Africa we are enjoined to combat such propaganda against our country.”
Jordaan wrote in the letter: “The South African government has undertaken to pay the amount equivalent to US$10.0m towards the 2010 FIFA World Cup Diaspora Legacy Programme.
“The Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Jabu Moleketi, has recommended that this money paid over to FIFA. I have subsequently had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosozana Dlamini Zuma, who has said that the funds should rather be paid over to the 2010 FiFA World Cup organising committee South Africa.
“In view of this determination, I want to suggest that FIFA deducts this amount (US$10.0m) from the LOCs future operational budget and deals directly with the Diaspora legacy support programme. I further suggest that an agreement be drawn up between all parties to formalise the matter.”
Former UEFA Lennart Johansson believes Blatter must have known about the $10m.
Johansson said: "I think that he must go immediately. I think the investigation has told him they will find out exactly what was done and by whom. The general secretary (Valcke) was sending away millions of dollars to America and then Blatter claims that he didn't know. He knows everything that's going on so don't believe that.
"The cash out (was) so much money and he who keeps everything under such tight control should know about it - this is nonsense."
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