FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

No action will be taken against South Africa coach Philippe Troussier over his alleged manhandling of a journalist here last weekend.

South African Football Association (SAFA) chief executive Danny Jordaan told AFP Wednesday that the weekly newspaper for whom the reporter works did not want to pursue the matter.

A report in City Press last Sunday claimed one of its reporters had been manhandled by Frenchman Troussier, who was angered by a story in a previous edition criticising some of his selections. Troussier is preparing South Africa for the World Cup finals in France next month.

Jordaan said SAFA had received “conflicting reports”   about the alleged incident and called for written reports from Troussier, team manager Augusto Palacios and the reporter. “However, after this meeting we received a letter from City Press indicating they regard the matter as closed and are not interested in pursuing it further.” 

“The matter is now closed,”  Jordaan stressed. “Troussier needs support and he should not be distracted in his preparations. We, therefore, say let sleeping dogs lie and let us forge ahead as a nation,”  City Press said in a statement.