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16_1206x678.webp "Black Leopards point finger at SAFA, FIFA in latest debacle")
Black Leopards chairman Tshifhiwa Thidiela has laid part of the blame for the club’s FIFA transfer ban at the feet of the SAFA.
Leopards, who are expected to be docked points from their Motsepe Foundation Championship clash against Lerumo Lions tomorrow, have been unable to field the required five U23 players in their matchday squad due to the sanction.
Speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube, Thidiela accused SAFA of mishandling the handover process when Leopards bought All Stars’ status last year.
"All Stars were sent a letter to do an assessment for the FIFA clearing house portal, now because they didn't do that, FIFA imposed a ban until you do the assessment," explained Thidiela.
"Now because that has gone to All Stars, and we bought All Stars [status], now it's being said that the ban is on Black Leopards, so that's where we are.
"But what is frustrating is that we accepted it and said over a month [ago], whatever it is – if there's money that will need to paid, we'll pay, no problem, we'll want to access that [portal] and do the assessment so that we can be compliant.
"At first we were advised that we need merge the Black Leopards portal with the All Stars portal, they must be one, and yesterday correspondence said SAFA must deactivate the All Stars portal.
"The most worrying thing is that we sent correspondence, I think the last time was on 7 September, asking to advise us on the steps to be followed to lift this so that we can follow that, and, like I said, if there was money required, let us also do that. But there is no response from FIFA."
Although frustrated, the Leopards chairman acknowledged that SAFA were now working around the clock to get the ban lifted.
"We obviously don't communicate with SAFA, but I don't necessarily want to exonerate us because we also need to push to make sure it gets done, but the responsibility is with SAFA because we can't do anything [directly]," he added.
"Like now, to do the assessment, there's absolutely nothing we can do. We're just sitting ducks, we must wait until somebody decides that they'll send us the link.
"But, without just throwing SAFA under the bus even though its their responsibility, I think the office of the TMS manager – two weeks ago, I even got him to leave a funeral to sit with me and try to send correspondence and things FIFA were asking for.
"The COO [Tebogo Motlhante] is also handy, we call him 24/7, so they are trying to get whatever is there. Unfortunately, from the PSL point of view, there's no one who can really communicate with FIFA, but they've given us the one match to postpone."
