Bribery Scandal at FIFA

[لني]

Associated Press:

FIFA suspends executives bin Hammam, Warner (AP) – 2 hours ago

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has suspended executive committee members Mohamed bin Hammam and Jack Warner after investigating accusations they bribed voters in the presidential election campaign.

FIFA cleared its president Sepp Blatter of ignoring the alleged bribes.

The decisions were announced Sunday after a hearing of the FIFA ethics committee.

Bin Hammam and Warner will now face a full FIFA inquiry.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

ZURICH (AP) — Mohamed bin Hammam has gone before a FIFA bribery hearing, hours after withdrawing his challenge to incumbent Sepp Blatter in the presidential election.

Bin Hammam has been accused of paying voters during a campaign visit to the Caribbean. The scandal has also implicated FIFA Vice President Jack Warner, who was summoned by the same ethics panel.

Blatter also answered allegations that he ignored bribe payments in the most serious corruption crisis of his 13-year reign. Soccer's governing body has been tarnished by repeated allegations of vote-buying and financial wrongdoing.

Soccer great Franz Beckenbauer, who retires as a member of FIFA's executive committee next week, on Sunday described the crisis as a "disaster for football."