Sri Lanka ‘praying’ for suspended Fernando!

Sri Lanka’s football chief Tuesday said he was “praying” that FIFA executive committee member Manilal Fernando would be able to clear his name after he was suspended as part of an ethics probe.

Football Federation of Sri Lanka president Sarath Weerasekera said Fernando’s senior role with the world body was a great honour for the country, which is not known for its achievements in the sport.

Fernando, a former Sri Lankan football head and an ally of former Asian soccer boss Mohamed bin Hammam, who is fighting claims of bribery and financial misdeeds, has been handed a 90-day ban from football activities by FIFA.

“His being in the FIFA board is an honour to Sri Lanka,” Weerasekera told AFP. “I am sure he will come out of this issue and that is what I am praying for.”

Sri Lanka’s Fernando, 63, who also has a seat on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee, was unavailable for comment on Tuesday.

Without going into details of his alleged transgressions, FIFA said it was suspending Fernando in the wake of an investigation opened in October 2012.

It said the action was “in order to prevent interference with the establishment of the truth” regarding ethics proceedings.

His suspension is thought to be related to investigations into scandal-hit ex-AFC chief bin Hammam, whom he had backed strongly. The Qatari businessman was accused of trying to buy votes in FIFA’s 2011 presidential vote, and banned from football.

Fernando accompanied bin Hammam on a trip to Caribbean nations ahead of the vote. Bin Hammam was later accused of trying to bribe officials during the visit.

The Qatari resigned as AFC head in December, shortly after FIFA’s ethics committee launched a new probe into corruption claims against him, and remains suspended from football despite having a FIFA life ban overturned last year. In May, the AFC will elect a permanent replacement for bin Hammam, whose ally Worawi Makudi of Thailand is among the four candidates vying to lead the Asian body.