PRETORIA: Some 13 footballers suspended in their native Zaimbabwe over matchfixing allegations are still playing – in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.

SAFA chief executive Robin Petersen has said that no action can be taken against the players, from  seven PSL clubs, until after world federation FIFA has endorsed the suspensions.

He said: “We are waiting for FIFA. ZIFA can’t come to us. We’re waiting for FIFA to suspend the players. Then I can take action.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter promised action against the Zimbabwean players when he attended the CAF congress in Khartoum.

The 13 are part of a group of 82 players who have confessed to match-fixing in 2008 and 2009 during tours to the Far East when Zimbabwean select XIs played matches against Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Syria.

betting syndicate repersentatives  persuaded to lose certain matches.

Among the players who have confessed are Nyasha Mushekwi of Mamelodi Sundowns, who scored two goals for the club against Wits last Sunday.

Others are Lionel Mtizwa and Method Mwanjali (Sundowns), Thomas Sweswe, Willard Katsande and Jimmy Jambo (Kaizer Chiefs), Oscar Machapa and Gilbert Mapemba (Moroka Swallows), Khama Billiat and Paul Rusike (Ajax Cape Town), Energy Murambadoro (Wits), Ramson Zhuwawo (AmaZulu) and Kingston Nkatha (Black Leopards).

# # # #