FIFA to foot bill for South Africa vs. Senegal replay

South African Football Association (SAFA) say they are expecting about 5 million rands ($380,000) from Fifa, needed for the organization of the replay encounter between Bafana Bafana and the Teranga Lions of Senegal, after the world’s football governing body annulled their earlier meeting of November 12, 2016 in the 2018 World Cup qualifier due to poor officiating.
Safa say since they were not found guilty of any manipulation during the cancelled game, the bills for a rematch have to be paid by Fifa.
“They (Fifa) have confirmed that they will foot the bills which could exceed 5 million rands ($380,000) and that is just the minimum,” said Dennis Mumble, a member of SAFA’s executive committee.
“Fifa have realised that we did nothing wrong and that the expenses we made during the November 12, 2016 match constitute a loss for us and that is the reason why they have agreed to pay that amount which involves renting of stadium, transport of our team, regrouping, accommodation of the Senegal team. There are also match bonuses as players cannot be asked to refund the money already paid to them,” the official added.
Both teams are expected to lock horns in Johannesburg in November on a date earlier scheduled for the Nelson Mandela Challenge.
Bafana won the previous meeting 2-1 played in Polokwane, but complaints from Senegal officials led Fifa to hand the referee of the match Joseph Lamptey from Ghana a life ban before annulling the outcome and ruling for a replay.
Burkina Faso currently top Group D on same 6 points with second-placed Cape Verde, followed by Senegal on 5 points, while South Africa now boast of just one point.