Bennet Bailey rejects ‘disgruntled’ label as Safa governance row grows

Former Safa vice-president Bennet Bailey has challenged the association’s national leadership to respond to criticism on its substance, rather than dismissing concerns by labelling former officials “disgruntled”.

Bailey lost his position on the National Executive Committee (NEC) after opposing incumbent president Danny Jordaan and backing challenger Sandile Zungu before Safa’s recent elective congress.

He said he had supported a change in direction and a fresh perspective within Safa’s leadership. Before the election, Bailey also questioned honorarium payments made to NEC members in the build-up to the congress, arguing that the decision had harmed the organisation’s public standing.

Jordaan’s Football Transformation Forum (FTF) went on to secure a landslide victory over Zungu’s Save Our Safa (SOS) campaign. Bailey was not re-elected to the NEC and consequently left the vice-presidency.

His former role is now held by Tankiso Modipa, who had strongly backed Jordaan “to safeguard Safa’s ways”.

Safa recently said its newly elected NEC had resolved to support Jordaan in his ongoing court proceedings against the association. It also warned that action would be taken against former “disgruntled” officials if they brought Safa or its current leadership into disrepute.

Bailey rejected that description and said issues should be examined before judgements are made.

“When people raise issues, let’s not try to dismiss them by saying those are disgruntled people. Go into the matter and look at the merits of the case before trying to dismiss it. That’s all I am asking. Stop using the ‘disgruntled’ label as a get-out-of-jail card,” Bailey told IOL Sport.

The Safa Cape Town president also stressed that his involvement in sports administration went beyond his previous position on Safa’s NEC.

Bailey is chairperson of the Professional Darts Association of South Africa and board chairperson for Western Cape football academies. He is also an executive member of the Western Cape Sports Federation, as well as a member of the Fifa Anti-Discrimination Committee and the Sascoc Legal Committee.

“I am deeply involved. My commitment doesn’t end with Safa – my involvement in sport is ingrained in who I am as a person,” Bailey said.

“That is why a title will not define my role in sport; my service will.”