Former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy has spoken out about long-standing rumours that he brought prostitutes to his hotel room ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The 48-year-old coach was controversially dropped from the final Bafana Bafana squad before the tournament on home soil.
Reports at the time claimed McCarthy and some teammates brought prostitutes to the team hotel, which allegedly led to then-head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira leaving him out of the squad.
Speaking to Andile Ncube on Metro FM., the former striker explained what really happened in the days leading up to the World Cup.
McCarthy was left out of 2010 squad
The former FC Porto forward strongly refuted the claims, saying the interaction in question involved nothing more than signing and giving away jerseys.
“I think that was the most horrible way to discredit me. I would prefer them to be straight up and tell me I wasn’t fit enough or whatever it is,” he said.
“What they said was that I was bringing girls — prostitutes for that matter. Me, I don’t pay for sex, I’m so sorry.”
McCarthy was part of the 2010 preliminary squad but was controversially dropped from the main team. During the camp leading to the World Cup, he explained that the players had been given a day off, with many of them spending time with family before some later met up in Rivonia.
“We were given the day off, so a lot of the boys went to spend time with their families. Later, we went to Rivonia clubs and then we all met up. Worst of all, I don’t even drink. I can do a toast, but I am not a drinker,” the former Orlando Pirates striker added.
He recalled returning to the team hotel with his close friend Percy, where they encountered several teammates.
“Later, I came back to the hotel with my best friend Percy. I found Schillo [Steven Pienaar], who was also coming back. When we got to the reception, I found Rowen Fernandez who was with his family and they were about to leave.”
McCarthy recalls 2010 incident
McCarthy said he, a friend and Fernandez were heading to their rooms when they encountered a group of foreign women in the lift.
“Inside the lift, we found these ladies and they asked for our T-shirts that we were wearing. I didn’t know them; they were foreigners. I said I would give them the jersey, so I went to my room to get shirts for them,” he explained.
“We signed them, gave them the shirts and they left,” McCarthy added.