South Africa reinstates officials suspended in match fixing scandal

JOHANNESBURG (REUTERS) - The South African Football Association (Safa) has reinstated its chief and four other leading officials suspended over a match fixing scandal involving the national team, saying they were improperly removed from office.

Safa did not exonerate the group, which included president Kirsten Nematandani, new chief executive Dennis Mumble and its top refereeing officials, but said the committee that put them on "special leave" did not have the authority to do so.

The move comes less than two weeks before South Africa hosts the African Nations Cup finals.

Last month, world soccer governing body Fifa handed over a 500-page report to SAFA on its investigation of convicted Singapore match fixer Wilson Raj Perumal and his Football 4U organisation.