Gayton McKenzie courts Fifa over Safa leadership issues - 'The same people that want me to interfere will hate me tomorrow if we get expelled'

The South Africa Football Association has courted controversy in recent years and lately the arrest of its president Danny Jordaan on corruption charges.

That has attracted the attention of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie who is willing to meddle in football issues although his hands are tied by Fifa rules.

“I’m concerned by what’s happening,” McKenzie told the media.

“I’ll not be a leader and a minister if I’m not concerned. But I must also say to you that rules are rules. FIFA has rules of non-interference by politicians. So, the same people who want me to interfere are the same people who will hate me tomorrow if we get expelled by Fifa.

“So what I’ve done is I’ve made contact with the president of FIFA through Safa to have a meeting with him. In that meeting, I want to be guided by him on what is to be done with this situation.

“So I’m not turning a blind eye to it. But I must congratulate Bafana Bafana; during the circumstances, Safa has done well," he added.

“We mustn’t take that away from them. They’ve done well that we qualified, but I’m waiting for the date for my meeting with Infantino. I’m going to ask him to tell me, ‘I do not want to be in breach of your rules’. What is to be done now.”

It is not the first time McKenzie has had a go at Safa since being appointed Sports Minister.

He recently demanded that Bafana qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup after they booked a place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

But a meeting with Infantino is likely to see the Fifa boss redirecting McKenzie to take a back seat and let Safa follow electoral procedures.

The next Safa elections are scheduled for 2026 and if Jordaan stands, he will be seeking a fourth term.

Already, former footballers like Lucas Radebe, Matthew Booth and Doctor Khumalo are being tipped to stand against Jordaan.