PRETORIA: Interpol has been called in to assist with a criminal investigation into the match-fixing scandal threatening South African Football Association with the worst corruption scandal in its history.

Only next month South Africa plays host to the finals of the African Nations Cup.

A police spokesman explained: “There are individuals of interest who are abroad and who we are interested in going to so as to get to the bottom of this case.”

SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani, incoming ceo Dennis Mumble and three other senior officials have been suspended after publication of FIFA report into match-fixing at warm-up games played just ahead of South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup.

A police investigation is under way under the terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act as far as sport is concerned.

The other three are head of referees Adeel Carelse, head of national teams Lindile Kika, and former head of national teams Barney Kujane.

SAFA has said it had apologised to FIFA over “compelling evidence” that the results of World Cup warm-up matches were fixed.

The report was completed by the global body’s former head of security, Chris Eaton, after it emerged that a bogus football development company, Football 4U, provided referees for the warm-up matches.

The company was later discovered to be a front for an Asian-based betting syndicate headed up by Wilson Raj Perumal, who was later convicted of match-fixing.

KEIR RADNEDGE

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