Johannesburg – An SA Football Association (Safa) referee appeared in the Protea Magistrate's Court on Thursday on charges of perjury and corruption, the Hawks said.
Clifford Malgas, 26, was arrested on Thursday at a school in Eldorado Park where he worked as an administrator, Captain Paul Ramaloko said.
Malgas would remain in custody until his next court appearance on Monday.
The arrest was in connection with the alleged fixing of soccer matches in the Vodacom Tournament in June 2011.
Earlier this year, former Bafana Bafana assistant coach Phil Setshedi, 57, was convicted of corruptly paying a police official posing as the chief referee R2000 to fix the soccer matches in the tournament.
Setshedi was arrested on June 8, 2011, after Safa reported him to the police following representations to officials in an alleged attempt to influence the outcome of a match.
He had travelled to Cape Town in June 2011, allegedly to bribe the referee to ensure the Mpumalanga Sevutsa Stars won two matches.
Ramaloko said Malgas and three others testified against Setshedi last year.
Malgas allegedly lied to the court and now faced additional charges of perjury, he said.
After Setshedi's prosecution, Malgas and the two other referees who testified were suspended from the sport.
Malgas also faced corruption charges for his alleged part in manipulating the outcome of a match during the 2011 second division play-offs in Cape Town.
On Thursday, Safa welcomed Malgas's arrest.
“The arrest of the match official is an outcome of ongoing collaboration between Safa and the directorate of priority crime investigation which is aimed at pursuing all other persons of interest in the said case,” said Safa CEO Dennis Mumble.
“We would like to reiterate that we will leave no stone unturned until all the implicated persons are brought to book.”
He said Safa and the Hawks were continuing with investigations into other suspected illegal and corrupt activities in soccer. – Sapa