Johannesburg – Tensions erupted at the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) National Executive Committee meeting, where senior officials exchanged shoves and shouted insults during heated disputes over overdue payments.
The squabbles at the meeting on Saturday, 7 March 2026, were about unpaid regional grants, bonuses for the Bafana Bafana CHAN squad, and deepening factional divisions ahead of the upcoming elective congress.
President Danny Jordaan, who is seeking a fourth term despite earlier pledges to step aside, faced fierce opposition from members aligned with the Football Task Force and Save Our Soccer groups.
Critics accuse 74-year-old Jordaan of using security personnel to intimidate rivals, while he continues to battle fraud charges in court. His matter was adjourned to April 2026.
Unimpressed, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie condemned the scenes as “embarrassing,” vowing to launch an investigation and report the matter to CAF and FIFA.
The turmoil follows a pattern of violent confrontations at past SAFA meetings, some of which have led to assault charges.
Disclaimer: This story was generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.
