The South African FA has denied claims from FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer that it issued bribes to win the vote to host the 2010 World Cup.
SAFA is angered by the reports and believes they tarnish both the reputation of the organisation and some of the country’s most prominent personalities.
“We categorically deny that this was a bribe in return for a vote,” the statement read.
“It belittles the hard work done by Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu, the government and others who sacrificed their time and money and family lives to make our country proud.”
English FA rejects World Cup talk
The English FA is “not interested” in stepping in to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups if they are taken away from Russia or Qatar.
New FA chief executive Martin Glenn has denied that his organisation is thinking in those terms, telling reporters: “We are really not interested. It has gone to Russia in good faith, they have not had a World Cup, why shouldn’t they play there, and 2022 was never going to be in Europe so it should be outside of Europe.
“So we support the World Cup being dispersed around the world, as the name suggests.”
Hazard wants Benteke at Chelsea
Eden Hazard says he would be the “happiest man in the world” if Belgium team-mate Christian Benteke signed for Chelsea.
The striker has been tipped to leave Aston Villa this summer. He has been linked with a move to a number of top Premier League clubs, including Hazard’s Chelsea.
“If Christian signs with us, I would be the happiest man in the world,” Hazard said.
“I have a great relationship with him and would like nothing better than to play with him.”
Since joining Villa in 2012, Benteke has scored a total of 49 goals in 101 appearances.
Uruguay impress
Uruguay handed Guatemala a 5-1 roasting in a friendly that augurs well for their defence of the Copa America in the absence of suspended striker Luis Suarez.
While Suarez was helping Barcelona win the Champions League title in Berlin, his young understudy Diego Rolan put Uruguay one up after four minutes from Alvaro Pereira’s cross.
Edinson Cavani then added a brace, his first a tap-in after Rolan had hit the post, then a penalty on the half-hour to put the home side 3-0 up at half-time.
Substitutes Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Abel Hernandez increased Uruguay’s lead before Guatemala pulled one back through defender Wilson Lalin 12 minutes from time.
The Uruguayans open their defence of the Copa America title against Jamaica on June 13.
Aguero hat-trick in Argentina cruise
Argentina and Sergio Aguero sent out a warning ahead of the upcoming Copa America after they beat Bolivia 5-0 at the San Juan del Bicentenario stadium.
The Manchester City striker scored a hat-trick while Angel di Maria bagged a brace as Gerardo Martino’s side punished a poor visiting side.
Aguero rounded his treble six minutes after the restart and Di Maria completed the scoring two minutes later when Miguel Hurtado was adjudged to have handled in the box and the Manchester United winger stepped up to fire home.
Argentina begin their Copa campaign against Group B opponents Paraguay on June 13.
Germany, Brazil boys march on
Germany and Brazil picked up their third consecutive group wins yesterday to march into the knockout stages of the Under-20 World Cup while Fiji’s fairytale journey in the tournament ended with a 3-0 loss to Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan’s win and Honduras’ 5-1 thumping by Germany, saw the Central Asian side catapult from bottom to second place in Group F.
Germany opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the second minute and though Honduras equalised in the 19th, they never really threatened Germany’s 100 per cent record.
In Christchurch, Brazil were made to wait an hour by North Korea but the Latin Americans won 3-0 to sail into the last 16 where they will meet Uruguay.
Rooney dismissed Republic option
Wayne Rooney confirmed he never considered playing for the Republic of Ireland.
Before England’s friendly in Dublin yesterday, Rooney was at pains to emphasise there will be no case of divided loyalties at the Aviva Stadium.
Rooney’s paternal grandparents are Irish and his wife Coleen, whose maiden name was McLoughlin, is also of Irish descent.
The couple’s first son Kai em-braced his Irish roots by donning a full Republic of Ireland kit on St Patrick’s Day three years ago, but there is no mistaking where his father’s loyalties lie.
“I am English through and through,” the striker said.
“I am playing for England and I want to help England win.”