Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Bin Hammam vows to fight FIFA life ban

July 27, 2011
Former Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed bin Hammam has vowed to fight his life ban from football after labelling the decision as an act of "revenge" by FIFA and its President Sepp Blatter.
FIFA imposed the ban on Saturday after its Ethics Committee found the suspended football executive guilty of bribery in his campaign to replace Blatter at the helm of world football's governing body.
Bin Hammam, who did not attend the hearing, denies the allegations and plans to clear his name by launching several appeals, including at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Bin Hammam told the BBC's Sportsweek radio programme "the ban for life, that shows how much these people are angry, how much they are full of revenge.
"The first step for me is the appeals committee of FIFA which is another kangaroo court. Then after that when we go to CAS things are going to be much improved. At that time I think FIFA will not have the full stage themselves. Then I should go to the civil courts in Switzerland where we have full confidence to make the necessary justice."
According to The Associated Press, Bin Hammam also claimed that FIFA has not yet outlined the charges against him.
Bin Hammam added "we wrote to FIFA about 10 days back asking them what the accusations (are) against Bin Hammam because so far there are no accusations known to us.
"Surprisingly, after some days, maybe one or two days before the trial, FIFA wrote back to my lawyers, telling them you will be know the accusations on the 22nd (July). From that we knew that FIFA has already taken (the decision), they just wanted the platform to announce it."
Chuck Blazer, the man who first blew the whistle on the FIFA bribery scandal, welcomed the life ban for Bin Hammam stating "I learned through some members that cash was being offered to members of our confederation for their votes and to me that's about as bad a situation as I can imagine. I believe vote-buying is unacceptable and I felt that had to be said widely and clearly and I am very glad the ethics committee has confirmed that, regarding bribery, we have zero tolerance. It sets a precedent and one that I fully support."
Blazer, who added that the decision marked "a very good day for football" added "the fact we have suffered suspensions is sad but it will send notice to anybody else that might be considering that type of corrupt activity that FIFA is not the place to try it...I had also worked with (former FIFA vice-president) Jack Warner for 21 years but over the past few years as I looked started to look at certain things I felt very uncomfortable. This was not the way we conducted things in the past."

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

SENtag

Developed in Europe, this innovative system offers a safety management solution for swimming pools that checks individual swimmers via their wristband - monitoring their depth and time. Sensors…

read more

Aquatics / Hospitality / Safety / Technology / Waterparks

 
 

Goplay Commercial Playground Equipment

Goplay designs and manufactures specialised playground equipment for indoor play centres, hotels, food chains, clubs and resorts. If our years of experience and dedication have taught us one thing,…

read more

Play

 
 

Worldwide Sports Management

Principal Consultant Simon Weatherill has spent the last 20 years developing the world renowned Melbourne Sports Hub, as former Chief Executive Officer of the State Sports Centres Trust…

read more

Aquatics / Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Venues

 
 

Advanced Aquarium Technologies

Advanced Aquarium Technologies (AAT) is a world leader in the design, construction, and operation of landmark public aquariums. Led from Queensland, AAT has delivered aquarium projects in over 25…

read more

Attractions / Consultants / Design / Parks / Zoos

 
 

Quayclean

Quayclean are a national cleaning and waste services partner with proven results in the understanding and delivery of cleaning needs and challenges faced by facilities including; major venues and…

read more

Aquatics / Hospitality / Surfaces / Venues

 
 

TicketSearch Pty Ltd

TicketSearch is focused on providing businesses, organisations, and venues with affordable, efficient, and powerful self-managed ticketing solutions. The organisation has offices in Australia, New…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

PerfectGym

Perfect Gym Solutions is a software as a service (SaaS) solution purpose-built to service the fitness industry, with over 1000 clients servicing over two million gym members across 40 countries making…

read more

Access / Fitness / Marketing / Recreation / Technology

 
 

Centaman Entrance Control

Turnstile Entry Systems and Access Control Centaman Entrance Controls’ Award Winning Range of Access Control Systems includes tripod & triarm turnstiles, speedgates, full height…

read more

Access / Entertainment / Sport / Ticketing / Venues

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business