AFC extends suspension against former president

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has extended its suspension of Mohamed Bin Hammam, amid investigation into possible corruption indulged in by its former president.

The governing body of Asian football Sunday said in a statement that the chairman of the AFC Disciplinary Committee, Lim Kia Tong Aug 15 extended the provisional suspension of Bin Hammam by 20 days, reports Xinhua.

Bin Hammam was banned from taking part in any kind of football activities for 30 days last month, after an outside audit found that he was involved in possible corruption during his tenure as AFC president.

The 63-year-old Qatari had been banned by FIFA, the world football governing body, after he was found guilty of trying to buy votes by bribery during the FIFA presidential race last year.

Although he won an appeal against FIFA’s decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland last month, AFC has since announced that the suspension remains valid.

Zhang Jilong, who took over the AFC presidency after Bin Hammam was banned by FIFA, wrote to AFC’s 46 member associations earlier this month, seeking their full cooperation in the investigation against Bin Hammam.

—IANS