This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-33017886

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Fifa crisis: Letter 'shows path of South Africa's $10m' Fifa crisis: 'Ex-President Mbeki signed off on South Africa's $10m'
(about 2 hours later)
A new leaked letter appears to show South African authorities seeking an indirect route for the transfer of $10m (£6.5m) to Fifa. South Africa's sports minister says the decision to donate $10m (£6.5m) to Fifa to develop Caribbean football was made by former President Thabo Mbeki.
It was written by then South Africa FA head Danny Jordaan three weeks before the first amount was paid. The payment, which South Africa denies was a bribe to secure the 2010 World Cup, is central to the Fifa scandal.
US prosecutors say the money was a bribe to Fifa officials to help secure South Africa's 2010 World Cup bid. The claim comes after a letter emerged that appears to show officials seeking an indirect route for the transfer.
South Africa's government said the letter did not contradict its statement that this was a legitimate payment.South Africa's government said the letter did not contradict its statement that this was a legitimate payment.
It says the cash was to fund the development of football for the African diaspora in the Caribbean and that the reporting of the letter in South Africa's Mail & Guardian was "regurgitation and sensation".It says the cash was to fund the development of football for the African diaspora in the Caribbean and that the reporting of the letter in South Africa's Mail & Guardian was "regurgitation and sensation".
The $10m payment is a key plank in the wide-ranging US criminal inquiry that has engulfed world football's governing body. The letter was written by then South Africa FA head Danny Jordaan three weeks before the first amount was paid in 2007.
Seven top Fifa officials, including two vice-presidents were arrested last week in Switzerland as they awaited Fifa's congress. US prosecutors say the money, which is a key plank in the wide-ranging criminal inquiry that has engulfed world football's governing body, was a bribe to Fifa officials.
Seven top Fifa officials, including two vice-presidents, were arrested last week in Switzerland as they awaited Fifa's congress.
They were among 14 new indictments in the US investigation, which alleges they accepted bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150m over a 24-year period.They were among 14 new indictments in the US investigation, which alleges they accepted bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150m over a 24-year period.
Four other people were charged earlier. One of them, ex-Fifa official Chuck Blazer, has pleaded guilty in the US to taking bribes related to South Africa's bid.Four other people were charged earlier. One of them, ex-Fifa official Chuck Blazer, has pleaded guilty in the US to taking bribes related to South Africa's bid.
'Diaspora legacy''Diaspora legacy'
The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent Karen Allen says the latest leaked letter appears to add weight to allegations that the South African government went to great lengths to hide the transfer of the $10m. The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent Karen Allen says up until now it hasn't been clear who made the decision on South Africa's $10m payment to Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.
The letter is signed by Mr Jordaan and addressed to Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke. But on Friday, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula told the Beeld newspaper that President Mbeki "spoke with the leadership of the 2010 World Cup local organising committee".
Mr Jordaan says Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi recommended that the money be paid to Fifa but that Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said it should instead "be paid over to the 2010 Fifa World Cup Organising Committee South Africa". "[It was] the government's idea," he added.
The Mail & Guardian quoted Mr Moleketi as saying the letter was a "fabrication" and he denied having "a conversation of that nature" with Mr Jordaan. In a statement released last week when the scandal began, Mr Mbeki said: "I wish to state that the government that I had the privilege to lead would never have paid any bribe even if it were solicited."
South Africa's sports ministry said in a statement on Friday that the letter merely affirmed that the payment was legitimate and proved that "the diaspora programme was pursued to support government policy".
The statement read: "We reject the Mail & Guardian article that frames an honest correspondence between Safa and Fifa and proof of bribery with contempt that it deserves; it is nothing else but regurgitation and sensation."
Mr Valcke has previously denied any wrongdoing in the matter.
US prosecutors say a senior South African official travelled to Paris to hand over cash in $10,000 stacks in a hotel room to an unnamed person working for Jack Warner, the former Fifa vice-president and head of the North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf).
How Fifa makes and spends its moneyHow Fifa makes and spends its money
South Africa comes out fighting Why should I care about Fifa corruption scandal?
What will it take to fix Fifa?What will it take to fix Fifa?
On Wednesday they released a transcript of Mr Blazer's guilty pleas. The leaked letter, which also emerged on Friday, is signed by Mr Jordaan and addressed to Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke.
Mr Blazer says: "Beginning in or around 2004 and continuing through 2011, I and others on the Fifa executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup." In the letter, Mr Jordaan says the deputy finance minister recommended the money be paid to Fifa but that Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said it should instead "be paid over to the 2010 Fifa World Cup Organising Committee South Africa".
Ms Dlamini-Zuma, who is President Jacob Zuma's ex-wife, is now chair of the African Union Commission.
The Mail & Guardian quoted former Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi as saying the letter was a "fabrication" and that he denied having "a conversation of that nature" with Mr Jordaan.
South Africa's sports ministry said in a statement on Friday that the letter merely affirmed that the payment was legitimate and proved that "the diaspora programme was pursued to support government policy".
Mr Valcke has previously denied any wrongdoing in the matter.
US prosecutors say a senior South African official travelled to Paris to hand over cash in $10,000 stacks in a hotel room to an unnamed person working for Jack Warner, the former Fifa vice-president and head of Concacaf.
On Wednesday they released a transcript of Mr Blazer's guilty pleas, in which he said: "Beginning in or around 2004 and continuing through 2011, I and others on the Fifa executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup."
In addition to the US investigation it was announced on Thursday that an elite police unit in South Africa is to launch a preliminary inquiry into allegations that officials paid bribes over the 2010 World Cup bid.In addition to the US investigation it was announced on Thursday that an elite police unit in South Africa is to launch a preliminary inquiry into allegations that officials paid bribes over the 2010 World Cup bid.