Tokyo Sexwale was asked to withdraw from the Fifa presidential race when he faced the SA Football Association's Emergency Committee at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday.
But in a compromise that saved Sexwale from an embarrassing exit from the race, the former Gauteng premier was allowed to stay on as a candidate when Safa decided to leave his fate in the hands of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Sexwale went to the meeting expecting to receive an endorsement from Safa but as Sowetan was reliably informed yesterday, he was instead told to cut his losses and call it a day.
"He was told to withdraw because he does not have support," an insider said. "He was told that Europe has made it clear it will back [Uefa general secretary] Gianni Infantino and he does not have their support. He was also told he does not have the support of Africa because he has not campaigned as much as he should have." The insider said Sexwale cut a disappointed figure when he was told that Safa could not endorse his candidacy.
Safa president Danny Jordaan was diplomatic after the meeting on Tuesday and said while the expectation from the public was that the SA mother body would announce whether it would continue to support Sexwale or dump him, they had decided to rather listen to CAF first before announcing their intentions.
"I know you wanted a yes or a no, but the first port of call is that this is a matter that should be discussed by CAF," Jordaan said.
"We will be present when CAF announce their decision. Whoever they endorse will have a significant advantage in this race. It would be extraordinary if you are a candidate, you don't get the backing of Africa [but still go on to win the election]."
CAF officials will meet in Kigali, Rwanda, today to decide on which candidate to support in the race to succeed Sepp Blatter as Fifa president. CAF will announce their preferred candidate and Jordaan said Safa would be guided by whatever decision is taken.
The Fifa election will be held in Zurich, Switzerland, on February 26 and those in the running at the time of writing were Sexwale, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Infantino and Jerome Champagne.
Sexwale told to cut his losses
Tokyo Sexwale was asked to withdraw from the Fifa presidential race when he faced the SA Football Association's Emergency Committee at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday.
But in a compromise that saved Sexwale from an embarrassing exit from the race, the former Gauteng premier was allowed to stay on as a candidate when Safa decided to leave his fate in the hands of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Sexwale went to the meeting expecting to receive an endorsement from Safa but as Sowetan was reliably informed yesterday, he was instead told to cut his losses and call it a day.
"He was told to withdraw because he does not have support," an insider said. "He was told that Europe has made it clear it will back [Uefa general secretary] Gianni Infantino and he does not have their support. He was also told he does not have the support of Africa because he has not campaigned as much as he should have." The insider said Sexwale cut a disappointed figure when he was told that Safa could not endorse his candidacy.
Safa president Danny Jordaan was diplomatic after the meeting on Tuesday and said while the expectation from the public was that the SA mother body would announce whether it would continue to support Sexwale or dump him, they had decided to rather listen to CAF first before announcing their intentions.
"I know you wanted a yes or a no, but the first port of call is that this is a matter that should be discussed by CAF," Jordaan said.
"We will be present when CAF announce their decision. Whoever they endorse will have a significant advantage in this race. It would be extraordinary if you are a candidate, you don't get the backing of Africa [but still go on to win the election]."
CAF officials will meet in Kigali, Rwanda, today to decide on which candidate to support in the race to succeed Sepp Blatter as Fifa president. CAF will announce their preferred candidate and Jordaan said Safa would be guided by whatever decision is taken.
The Fifa election will be held in Zurich, Switzerland, on February 26 and those in the running at the time of writing were Sexwale, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Infantino and Jerome Champagne.
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