Bin Hammam alleges FIFA campaign against him

Mohamed Bin Hammam

DOHA, (Reuters) – Suspended Asian soccer  chief Mohamed Bin Hammam says a campaign has been waged against  him within “certain quarters” at FIFA to “eliminate” him from  the game amid investigations over a cash-for-votes bribery  scandal.
The Qatari is scheduled to attend a FIFA Ethics Committee  hearing tomorrow which is investigating allegations that he  tried to bribe members of the Caribbean Football Union in return  for votes during his FIFA presidential election bid last month.

Mohamed Bin Hammam

“With just a few days to go before my hearing, there can be  no doubt there has been a campaign waged within certain quarters  to ensure that I am seen to be guilty and eliminated from  football in the court of public opinion, even before my hearing  has started,” he wrote on his personal website yesterday.

Bin Hammam, a FIFA Executive Committee member, said on  www.mohamedbinhammam.com he was surprised that while he had been  suspended a few days before the FIFA presidential vote there was  hardly any action against those he was supposed to have bribed.

“Does it not surprise anyone that, although I have been  suspended for the last seven weeks from involvement in all  football-related activities… for allegedly bribing  individuals, none of those who it is claimed received those  alleged inducements have faced similar action?” he asked.

The 62-year-old, who was running against Sepp Blatter for  the FIFA presidency before withdrawing his candidacy allowing  the Swiss to secure a fourth term unopposed, also questioned the  Ethics Committee’s haste in taking action him.

“Why was the Ethics Committee in such a hurry to suspend me  before the FIFA election took place and then begin to search for  evidence to find if I am guilty or not? Why have I not been  treated in a similar way to others who, according to the Ethics  Committee, received inducements?” he asked.