South Africa’s football assosciation has admitted to making a $10m payout to host the world cup. However it has denied that the payment was a bribe.
The payment was made to a football body led by Jack Warner.
Warner is one of the FIFA officials arrested as suspects of corruption allegations at the body that governs world football.
The head of South Africa’s Football Association, Danny Jordaan, has been quoted in local media confirming that the amount was deducted from Fifa payment in 2008 and sent to the Caribbean Football Association instead.
South African officials maintain it was not a bribe to secure the 2010 World Cup hosting rights.
U.S. Prosecutors insist the payment was illegal stating that the government promised $10m to Mr Warner – then a Fifa vice-president – in exchange for the country becoming the first African country to host the World Cup.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter has, meanwhile, slammed the United State for what he is calling interference in the body’s activities.
The allegations are the latest in a string of allegations facing FIFA officials and also to have rocked the world football governing body.
The latest reports come with Fifa – the governing body of world football – in crisis. 14 Senior Fifa officials are facing bribery charges.
President Sepp Blatter has not been implicated but has faced calls to stand down. He was re-elected as Fifa president on Friday.
