The man who brought the World Cup to South Africa in 2010 has withdrawn his candidacy for a place on FIFA's all-powerful council to concentrate on winning a seat on the African confederation's executive committee.
Confirmation that South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan was pulling out of the FIFA race came in a CAF memo that has been widely reported in the South African media.
The timing of the news, and the memo's wording, raised some speculation that the anti-apartheid lawyer-turned-football administrator had failed FIFA's new integrity test for potential candidates.
But SAFA spokesman Dominic Chimhavi strongly denied this as "mischief-making" and said his boss is eligible for election but has decided to concentrate on winning a seat around African football's top table.
Speaking to Press Association Sport, Chimhavi said: "After advice from CAF, he has decided to go for just the CAF ExCo seat. He was the only candidate standing in both elections but it is better to go for one.
"Because of his achievement in bringing the World Cup to Africa, he is one of the big names on the continent. There is no doubt about this. His achievements are unmatched and he should be on CAF's ExCo."
While South Africa 2010 was a significant moment for African football, its legacy has not been entirely positive, with Jordaan dogged in recent years by allegations of bribery during the bidding contest for the World Cup.
Press Association Sport understands that he is one of two unnamed South African officials in the United States Department of Justice's 2015 FIFA corruption indictment, with the central allegation being that government money was funnelled to former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner in return for the votes he controlled as president of football's Central and North American confederation CONCACAF.
Warner has been banned from football for life, while no formal proceedings have been taken against Jordaan and he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The various African elections take place at CAF's ordinary general assembly in Addis Ababa next week. Top of the agenda will be Cameroonian Issa Hayatou's attempt to win an eighth straight presidential term, although he is likely to face strong opposition this time from Mauritius FA chief Ahmad.
Jordaan is hoping to win a CAF southern zone ExCo seat and is up against incumbent Suketu Patel from the Seychelles, Namibia's Frans Mbidi and Angolan Rui Eduardo Da Costa.
Source: PA
