The FIFA Investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee has concluded investigations into Kirsten Nematandani, Jonathan Musavengana and Banna Tchanile and on conclusion the deputy chairman of the investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee, Djimbaraye Bourngar made the following recommendations:
The investigation was into the affairs of Kirsten Nematandani, former President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Jonathan Musavengana, former official of the Zimbabwe Football Association, and Banna Tchanile, former coach of the national team of Togo. As chief of investigation, Mr Bourngar submitted the respective reports, including the relevant recommendations together with the investigation files, to the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, which is chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert. The investigations into the three individuals were initiated in relation to their specific conduct in the organisation of several international friendly matches played in South Africa in 2010.
In his final report, the chief of investigation recommends the sanction of a ban for no less than six years and a fine of no less than CHF 10,000 (Approximately R140 000.00) for Mr Nematandani for an apparent violation of art. 13 pars 1-4 (General Rules of Conduct), art. 15 (Loyalty) and art. 18 (Duty of Disclosure, Cooperation and Reporting) of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE).
Furthermore, he recommends the sanction of a lifelong ban for both Mr Musavengana and Mr Tchanile for the apparent breach of art. 13 pars 1-4 and art. 21 pars 1 and 3 (Bribery and corruption) of the FCE.
Until a formal decision is taken by the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, the accused are presumed innocent.
In March 2016 Nematandini was quoted as saying; “I have been saying that I am innocent from day one. Honesty and integrity is how I have carried myself in all the years that I have been a football official. I have never stolen a penny in my career, instead I would rather sacrifice my income for the good of the game. Why I would I be involved in that at the climax of my career? What would I benefit?”
Kirsten Nematandani also said that naivety rather than corruption is to blame for them being duped by convicted fraudster Wilson Raj Perumal and his match-fixing ring.
That ring organised friendly matches for Bafana Bafana against Thailand, Bulgaria, Colombia and Guatemala leading up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup. It didn’t stop there, the ring also organised referees for those matches. That’s where alarm bells should have been raised, but instead those matches went ahead as planned. That was until former head of referees Steve Goddard blew the lid just before the friendly against Denmark in Pretoria, a week before the World Cup kicked off in June.
Alan Straton
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