South Africa’s bowler Kagiso Rabada, center, celebrates with teammates after dismissing New Zealand’s batsman Nathan McCullum, for 10 runs during their first One Day International cricket match at the Centurion Park stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa on Monday banned its national cricket and rugby federations from hoisting or bidding for international tournaments for at least a year, following their failure to increase the representation of black players.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula also banned the athletics and netball federations from bidding in any major tournaments.
Mbalula said that he would review his decision only when the sports federations meet their transformation targets.
Mbalula’s decision comes as a major blow to the South African Rugby Association’s intentions of bidding in the 2013 Rugby World Cup, bidding for which starts next month.
Incidentally, soccer federation was the only one to meet its target.
For more than two decades, the South African government has been pushing the country’s main sports, especially cricket and rugby, to create more opportunities for black players.
- TAGS
- Cricket
- netball
- Rugby
- Soccer
- South Africa
- Sports