Bin Hammam to appeal FIFA ban

Monday, 25 July 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

One day after being banned from soccer by the sport’s governing body, Mohamed bin Hammam declared Sunday that he intends to take FIFA’s decision to the Appeals Committee.

“The ban for life, that shows how much these people are angry, how much they are full of revenge,” bin Hammam told the BBC’s Sportsweek radio program.FIFA’s ethics committee banned the former Asian Football Confederation president on Saturday after finding him guilty of bribing presidential election voters.

FIFA found that bin Hammam conspired to pay Caribbean officials $40,000 cash bribes in return for their vote in FIFA’a presidential election. Bin Hammam was running against incumbent Sepp Blatter, but he was suspended from the sport after the bribery allegations came to light.

Bin Hammam, who was not present at Saturday’s hearing, has vehemently denied the allegations and plans to clear his name by launching several appeals.

“The first step for me is the appeals committee of FIFA which is another kangaroo court,” he said. “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.” Bin Hammam said he plans to take his case to the civil courts in Switzerland where he and his attorneys “have full confidence to make the necessary justice.” Bin Hammam said he will not resign, but will quit with the “final say of Switzerland.”