On this day in history: FIFA recognises South African football
On May 11 1958, FIFA officially recognised the white body of the Football Association of South Africa (FASA) as the football governing body of SA.
A year after FIFA recognised SA, the National Football League (NFL) was formed. The league was founded by twelve football clubs from Johannesburg and Pretoria, none of which exist today. Ted Wallace was elected as secretary of the organisation.
Two years later, FASA included some black players within their structure. The governing body sanctioned a landmark inter-racial match when FIFA suspended South Africa in 1962. The match was played between the White Germiston Callies and the Black African Pirates before 10 000 people in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho.
In the first completed NFL season, more than 500 000 spectators watched the 210 league and cup matches, and huge crowds continued well into the 1970s.
In 1971, the National Professional Soccer League came into existence with Orlando Pirates crowned as the first national champions. Today, the professional league has changed its name to the Premier Soccer League (PSL), with a few clubs that played in the first league in 1971.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) was eventually founded on 8 December 1991. This was the culmination of a long unity process that was to rid South African sport of all past racial division.
Source: SA History
