Corruption in the ABC Motsepe League – internal report lifts the lid on SAFA intrigue

The South African Football Association’s (SAFA) tough talk on tackling corruption is at odds with its actions in dealing with the problem – at least in one case. 

SAFA claims it is “committed to the promotion of fair play, integrity and the eradication of maladministration, match fixing and corruption in football”. 

But the association’s response to its own internal investigation into what seems to be a blatant case of graft in the ABC Motsepe League – and its failure to adjust how it runs the amateur league – raise questions about SAFA’s willingness and capability to combat match fixing.

The ABC Motsepe League is the third of the five tiers that make up South African football. The first two tiers – the premier division (DStv Premiership) and the national first division (Motsepe Foundation Championship) – are the professional wings and they are governed by the Premier Soccer League (PSL). SAFA is in charge of the amateur structures. The three tiers that SAFA manages are the ABC Motsepe League which is followed by the Regional Leagues (formerly SAB League) and lastly the Local Football Associations. 

The ABC Motsepe League is the bridge between amateur and professional football, where most of the money and attention (in the form of scouts and media coverage) is concentrated. The league is marred by controversy and accusations of corruption. 

“The reason for corruption is greed,” SAFA interim integrity officer Alex Abercrombie told amaBhungane. “Money changes hands. It may be to win a competition, or a play-off to gain promotion to a higher league where big money is paid for participating in that higher league and where players can be sold for huge sums of money.”

In 2017, an internal SAFA investigation uncovered an alleged