Phil Setshedi has been sentenced to eight years in jail for attempted bribery.

The announcement was made by the South African Football Association who confirmed he will serve three years with the other five suspended.

SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani said: “This sends out a strong warning to anyone who might intend to tarnish the good name of the sport through corrupt and any other unsporting behaviour.”

Setshedi was found guilty of trying to influence the outcome of a promotion play-off match in the third tier of South African football in 2011 by offering the referee a bribe.

A former player and coach of South African champions Orlando Pirates, he was also Clive Barker’s assistant when South Africa won the 1996 African Nations Cup.

The prosecution comes on the back of recent allegations that several matches involving the country’s national team were fixed by an Asian betting syndicate ahead of the 2010 World Cup.