FIFA has been upheld, bin Hammam attacks

Zurich (AP) - The sentence is spoken, but the scandal threatens proven football's world governing body for the lifetime ban on Mohamed Hammam am a legal aftermath of unimagined proportions. After weeks of examinations and a two-day meeting of the former presidential candidate and former campaign aides of FIFA boss Joseph Blatter of FIFA's ethics committee was found guilty of corruption. "Mohamed bin Hammam is hereby prohibited for life to participate in activities at national or international levels that affect the monday night football pick," said the Namibian Petrus Damaseb as deputy chairman of the controversial body of the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. In a half-hour press conference Damaseb tried that - according to leaked earlier indiscretions and expected - to praise as liberation verdict in the corruption scandal of FIFA.

The 62-year-old bin Hammam had spared the trip to Zurich and was represented by two lawyers. Previously he had denounced a prejudgment by FIFA. The Qataris, since 1996 Member of the FIFA Executive Committee since 2002 and chief of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), sees himself as a victim of justice and announced through his lawyers appeal against the verdict.

"He protested his innocence and will continue to fight with all legal avenues through the courts, which are open to him, and appeal it," Bin Hammam said one of the lawyers. Eugene Gulland further added that the verdict was based against its Qatari clients "on lies by senior FIFA officials."

The Ethics Commission found as fact that the long-time friend Blatter wanted to buy votes for his ultimately unsuccessful election as FIFA President. Bin Hammam had tried in early May, officials from the Caribbean monday night pick Football Union with cash gifts amounting to a total of one million dollar bribe. The former FIFA vice-Jack Warner, alleged accomplice of bin Hammam at the vote-buying, was previously resigned from all offices and had thus deprived of a penalty by FIFA. He rejects all accusations. The CFU members Minguell Debbie and Jason Sylvester, like bin Hammam suspended on bribery charges were much less serious of which - the Ethics Commission blocked both for one year. After 15 years lost in the FIFA executive bin Hammam by the verdict and his post as president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and all privileges. Prohibits the harsh punishment he even get involved at the lowest amateur level for a club. Now he is considering a response to the International Sports Court of Arbitration and even necessary to appeal to the Swiss Federal Court. In his home declared interim president Zhang Jilong AFC, that the "respect decisions of FIFA, but also the right of the former AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam to appeal, acknowledge."

Instead there was a personal commentary on the website hammams'm just reading a letter. Entitled "Le Président", addressed to "Mr. Mohamed Bin Hammam, "signed with" warm "and the handwritten words:" My dear brother "and" In deep friendship, Sepp Blatter. " On 16 June 2008 this letter to Blatter have sent his former confidant, who was in his two election campaigns is an important vote buyer.

Bin Hammam has fallen deeply, FIFA now wants to slowly raise it again. After trespassing in a perfect world so gladly proclaimed FIFA family threatened legal affair, but with an external processing further trouble. A trial before the CAS, or a court of law could bring Blatter's Association in distress. Of the 75-year-old Swiss initially no response was heard. At the time of sentencing Blatter was in Argentina at the Copa America.