Landmark inter-racial match

Two years later, FASA did include some black players within their structure and, when FIFA suspended South Africa in 1962, the governing body sanctioned a landmark inter-racial match, played between the "white” Germiston Callies and the "black” African Pirates before 10 000 people in Maseru, capital of Lesotho.

In truth, FASA were whistling against the wind. Hard though they tried to present non-racial soccer in a very racial country, the governing body simply ended up looking foolish. When, in 1963, the FIFA Executive lifted South Africa's suspension, FASA responded by announcing the country would send a white side to the 1966 World Cup in England and a black team to Mexico in 1970.

Enough was enough. South Africa was again suspended from FIFA in 1964, and the domestic game erupted in hostility between the establishment FASA and the "non-racial ” body, the SA Soccer Federation (SASF).

In soccer, as in society, unity seemed a pipe dream. Even when yet another inter-racial fixture, between the "white” Highlands Park and the "black” Orlando Pirates was arranged at a venue outside South Africa and approved by FIFA, the then Minister of the Interior threatened to deny passports to everyone who wished to attend and the game was cancelled.

Finally, after the Soweto uprising in 1976, the lights were switched off, and South Africa was formally expelled from FIFA. In isolated darkness, FASA was reborn as the Football Council of South Africa, but intermittent unity talks with SASF failed and the game continued to flow in two separate streams.

This information was provided by the South African 2010 Local Organising Committee.

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