adminJOHANNESBURG – German sportswear company Puma has confirmed it has terminated its technical and licensed partnership with the South African Football Association with immediate effect.Puma was supplying the kit for the South African national teams, including Bafana Bafana. “Puma can confirm it exercised the right to terminate its technical and licensed partnership with the South African Football Association,” the company said yesterday.
In April this year, Safa confirmed that a Fifa report into match-fixing, revolving around Bafana Bafana’s 2010 World Cup warm-up matches, had been received and was looked into by a judicial inquiry.
“Following match-fixing allegations made against Safa, along with inappropriate responses from within the football organisation (including the suspension of senior officials), Puma terminated the contract with immediate effect,” the statement said.
Puma’s termination comes a day after Absa announced it would not renew its sponsorship of the national soccer body. Absa’s current deal expires in December this year, but in a statement released on Wednesday, Absa confirmed that it would not continue its association with Safa.
“Absa confirms it will conclude its sponsorship of the South African national soccer team, better known as Bafana Bafana, when the current agreement with the South African Football Association expires at the end of 2013,” the statement read.
“This follows a review of Absa’s business and brand objectives.”
The German brand, however, insisted it enjoyed a good working relationship with Safa but had decided to part ways due to “ethical reasons. “Puma abides by a code of ethics in all areas of its business operations and expects its partners to adhere to the same values,” the statement said.
“Puma would like to state that with notable exception to the issues in question it enjoyed a good working relationship with Safa, and wishes them well for the future.”
Safa revealed yesterday that it had been informed by the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation (The Hawks) that they have arrested a member of the Safa panel of referees. Safa said it was pleased with the arrest of the match official who cannot be named until he appears in court.
The association suspended him after it was discovered during the trial of Philemon Setshedi that he was implicated as one of the persons allegedly involved in an attempt to manipulate the outcome of a match during the 2011 2nd Division Play-offs, which took place in Cape Town.
Setshedi was sentenced in February 2013 to eight years (five years suspended) for his role in the matter and is currently serving his sentence. “The arrest of the match official is an outcome of ongoing collaboration between Safa and the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation (The Hawks) which is aimed at pursuing all other persons of interest in the said case.
We would like to reiterate that we will leave no stone unturned until all the implicated persons are brought to book,” said Safa CEO Dennis Mumble.
Safa and the Hawks are continuing with investigations into other illegal and corrupt activities in football. “In the interest of protecting the integrity of such investigations, we will not release any further details at this stage. We do however commit to act swiftly, effectively and without fear or favour should we receive evidence of wrongdoing,” he concluded. – Sapa/SuperSport.com
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