SAFA Boss, Danny Jordaan, Arrested

South African Football Association (SAFA) President, Danny Jordaan, was arrested yesterday over allegations he used the organisation’s money for his own purposes, according to local media reports.

Jordaan, who was a leading figure in bringing the 2010 World Cup to South Africa, had tried to interdict his imminent arrest on Tuesday, but the Johannesburg High Court is only scheduled to hear his submission today.

The arrest stems from a raid by police on the SAFA offices in March, after which police spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the allegations are that “between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organisation’s resources for his gain, including hiring a private security company for his protection and a public relations company, without authorisation from the SAFA board.”

Jordaan, 73, and his reported co-accused, SAFA chief financial officer, Gronie Hluyo, and businessman Trevor Neethling, appeared in court later yesterday.

Neither Jordaan nor SAFA responded to a request for comment from Reuters, but in his affidavit to the court seeking to block his arrest, he denies any wrongdoing.