July 6, 2011 -- Updated 1333 GMT (2133 HKT)
The ethics committee of soccer's world governing body FIFA will meet on July 22 and 23 to reach a verdict on the bribery allegations against the head of the Asian Football Confederation Mohamed bin Hammam it was announced on Wednesday.
Qatari Bin Hammam is alleged to have offered bribes in exchange for votes in June's FIFA presidential election, claims the 62-year-old denies.
Sepp Blatter was elected unopposed for a fourth term as FIFA president after Bin Hammam was suspended on May 29 pending an investigation.
A report of the ethics committee's findings has been sent to Bin Hammam, who will make his case to FIFA on July 22.
FIFA corruption timeline: A year of allegations
Two Caribbean football officials -- Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester -- who were suspended along with Bin Hammam when the allegations were first made in May, will also face the hearing.
"The FIFA ethics committee will meet on 22 and 23 July to examine the cases of Mohamed Bin Hammam, Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester," read a statement on the organization's official web site.
"The three officials have received the report on the investigations conducted by the ethics committee since 29 May, and have been invited to present their position in writing prior to the meeting of 22 July."
Former FIFA vice-president and head of football in the Caribbean Jack Warner was also implicated in the bribery allegations, but all action against the Trinidadian was halted -- with his innocence presumed -- following his resignation on June 20.
Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player and coach with West Germany, is retiring from his position as a member of the 24-man FIFA executive committee -- a body which makes decisions on matters such as which country will host the World Cup.
Beckenbauer said the bribery and corruption allegations which have surrounded FIFA in recent times have not been good for the sport.
"I think FIFA now and football in general is in a bad condition because all of these rumors have hurt football," the two-time European Footballer of the Year told reporters in Durban, where he was supporting Munich's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.
FIFA chiefs 'bribed' officials claims leaked report
The one-time Bayern Munich star said football could learn from the International Olympic Committee and suggested important decisions regarding the sport should be made by more than 24 people.
"The Olympics can give a lesson to football. Why not? I think everybody has the right to be part of the decision, not only 24. I think it is not a bad example that the IOC gives FIFA the idea."
Credit: CNN (www.cnn.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment