South Africa’s football president Danny Jordaan arrested on fraud and theft charges

Jordaan is accused of using about R1.3 million ($72,372) of South African Football Association (SAFA) funds to hire a PR firm and a private security company for his personal benefit.

FILE PHOTO - Jordaan is president of the association and led the country’s World Cup bid committee, which secured the rights to host one of the biggest sporting events in South Africa in 2010. | Photo Credit: AFP

South African football chief Danny Jordaan, who helped bring the first-ever FIFA World Cup tournament to Africa, has been arrested on fraud and theft charges.

Jordaan is accused of using about R1.3 million ($72,372) of South African Football Association (SAFA) funds to hire a PR firm and a private security company for his personal benefit.

Jordaan is president of the association and led the country’s World Cup bid committee, which secured the rights to host one of the biggest sporting events in South Africa in 2010.

His arrest follows a raid by the country’s Special Investigating Unit at the offices of SAFA in March “where an assortment of electronic gadgets and files were seized for further investigation, thus leading to the arrest,” police spokesperson Katlego Mogale said.

According to the police, Jordaan was arrested with one other official and a businessman. They are expected to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

SAFA did not immediately respond to requests for comment