Danny Jordaan, President of the South African Football Association, faces arrest amid allegations of misconduct, stirring controversy within South African sports.
Danny Jordaan, the President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), was arrested on Wednesday following allegations reported by local media that he misappropriated the organization’s funds for personal use.
Jordaan, celebrated for his key role in bringing the 2010 FIFA World Cup to South Africa, attempted to prevent his arrest on Tuesday by submitting an urgent application.
Nevertheless, as the Johannesburg High Court is not set to hear his case until Thursday, he remains at risk of being arrested.
The arrest is a result of a police raid on the SAFA offices in March. Following this, police spokesperson Katlego Mogale stated that the allegations suggest that “between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA misused the organization’s resources for personal benefit by employing a private security company for his own protection and hiring a public relations firm without obtaining authorization from the SAFA board.”
Jordaan, aged 73, along with his alleged co-accused—SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling—is scheduled to appear in court later on Wednesday.
Jordaan and SAFA did not reply to Reuters’ request for comment. However, in his affidavit submitted to the court to prevent his arrest, he claims innocence regarding any wrongdoing.
