19 Jan 2022

A FIFA delegation has allegedly absolved Botswana Football Association (BFA) from any funds embezzlement.

Recent reports suggested that the association had misused funds from the world football governing body.

Consequently, BFA suspended its chief executive officer, Goabaone Taylor, on December 29, 2021 citing irregular utilisation of the association’s funds.

To get to the bottom of the matter, the association wrote to FIFA for assistance.

For this reason, a two-man delegation of David Fani and FIFA group leader for development in Africa, Solomon Mudenge sniffed the BFA books.

In its probe, the delegation reportedly interviewed key players at the secretariat and some members of the national executive committee (NEC).

In its efforts to dig for more information, BOPA learnt that, on Tuesday, the delegation submitted its findings to BFA NEC.

BFA acting CEO, Tshepo Mpukuthi, confirmed that the FIFA delegation had indeed presented its preliminary findings.

However, Mpukuthi said they would not make the report public given that the delegation was yet to hand it to FIFA.

Members of the delegation were not available to corroborate the information.

However, allegations abound that the delegation reported that there was neither embezzlement nor misappropriation of funds at the BFA. However, it noted virements of funds.

The investigations reportedly realised that the secretariat diverted projects funds to operations without first seeking authority from the NEC.

Although the secretariat did not follow the procedure of diverting funds, it was allegedly pressed to do so, according to multiple sources.

Some of the funds were used for the national team that was forced to stay in camp for a long time owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, the delegation found out that there was misallocation of funds between projects and activities.

Going forward, there will be a central review, through an external audit, to confirm FIFA findings. ENDS