Broos under fire: UDM takes Bafana coach to SAHRC for 'racist and sexist' comments

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has lodged a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over what it alleges are racist and sexist remarks made by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Hugo Broos courted controversy after expressing disappointment at defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s late arrival for camp at the High-Performance Centre in Pretoria on Wednesday.

READ: Bafana coach Hugo Broos slams ‘unprofessional’ Mbekezeli Mbokazi for missed AFCON flight

This followed Mbokazi’s arrival a day later than scheduled. Broos added that he would have a behind-closed-doors meeting with the player to explain the kind of behaviour he expects from a national team player.

Broos said, “So, I will have a chat with him after training. And I can assure you, he is a black guy, and he will get out of my room as a white guy. Because that I can’t accept. But I know why, I know why. Suddenly, Mbokazi is a star – he thinks he is a star. This is the attitude of a star, ‘I will decide when I come’. I will explain it to him. I’m very angry, very angry about his attitude.”

The UDM’s sexist complaint relates to comments the coach made about Mbokazi’s agent, Basia Michaels.

He questioned her football knowledge after it was confirmed in early December that Mbokazi would be joining MLS side Chicago Fire in January, rather than waiting for a move to Europe after the FIFA World Cup.

"But I know what happened, that woman who's his agent [Basia Michaels] and thinks she knows football is doing what many agents are doing. It's how much they can get. If she's a little bit clever, she should know that Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and World Cup are coming next year, there could have been better teams that he can go to and not Chicago," Broos added.