The South African Football Association (SAFA’s) bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is in serious jeopardy – at the moment.
SAFA sent their bidding documents to FIFA as part of its commitment to host the Women’s World Cup in 2027, but there may be an obstacle.
While SAFA was asked to put the bid together, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) released this statement last month: “South Africa will not be awarded the right to host regional, continental and World Championships, and events organised by major event organisations, until SAIDS/BSADA is reinstated; and South Africa’s flag will not be flown at regional, continental and world championships and events organised by major event organisations (other than the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) until Saids is reinstated.”
This was due to SA being found to be non-compliance in its drug-free legislation which was last updated in 2006.
South Africa, who had until October 14 to comply with their regulations by updating legislation, has since challenged this decision: “The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) filed a notice to challenge WADA’s non-compliance declaration against South Africa through the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS).
“WADA has confirmed that it has received the formal notification from SAIDS, which disputes the allegation of non-compliance and the proposed consequences.
“WADA has thus stated that the allegation of non-compliance against South Africa is put on hold and the consequences will not apply until a time CAS makes its ruling.”
This was welcomed by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa who was “pleased that the World Anti-Doping Agency consequences have been put on hold”.
This suspension being put on hold saw the SA flag flown high as the Springboks produced a heart-stopping World Cup quarter-final win over hosts France at Stade de France on Sunday.
If the suspension was not put on hold, the SA flag would have not flown as well for the Proteas during the current Cricket World Cup in India.
“It affects all sports national federations, however, the consequences have been suspended until the Court of Arbitration rules on the matter,” said CEO of SAIDS, Khalid Galant to iDiski Times.
“If the consequences were enforced, it would have affected the bid for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
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When Galant was asked what are the chances of this suspension being removed completely, he said: “We will have an idea this week or next when WADA evaluates the correspondence that we sent. We know there is a statement that will come out probably within the next week or two and we will update from there.”
The SA bid to host the World Cup, according to the sources, has also not been backed publicly by the government due to reports of various shenanigans happening at SAFA.
South Africa, who became the first African nation to host the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, respectively, is facing a joint-bid by Belgium, Germany and Netherlands, a joint-bid by the United States of America and Mexico as well as a bid by Brazil.
The appointment of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup host(s) will be announced in 2024.
