Bin Hammam: “The Act of Dictators”

A few days ago I mentioned that Mohamed bin Hammam was under investigation for giving bribes to Caribbean countries in return for their voting Qatar as the World Cup host in 2022.  On Saturday, July 23, FIFA president Sepp Blatter gave Bin Hammam a “life ban from soccer” due to the allegations.  Bin Hammam was outraged, claiming that Blatter was acting like a dictator.  Essentially, he sees it as a move by Blatter to prevent him from taking over the FIFA presidency.

Bin Hammam, who is also the president of the Asian Football Confederation, is appealing the life ban and has asked members of the AFC to support him.  The Court of Arbitration for Sport (I never knew there was such an entity!) will hear the case, but delays in the case are expected.

This is actually the act of the dictators.  You have witnessed through history the dictators, when they think this or that person is a prominent one to replace him, first thing they do they execute him and try to fabricate any allegation against him to jail him or something like that.

On Monday, Bin Hammam told Sky Sports News that the activities he is being accused of are not unusual at FIFA and that his actions did not constitute a bribe.  He also said that he did not exchange any cash for votes, and calls the alleged bribes “gifts” that are a nice gesture.  He then pointed to his wristwatch, “This watch is a gift…It is a gesture.  When I received it, I did not give anything.”

Zhang Jilong, who has been acting as the AFC president since Bin Hammam’s suspension, said of the situation:

AFC respects FIFA’s decision and we also acknowledge former AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam’s inalienable right to lodge an appeal against the decision.

Though the appeal may take a while to go through, it will be interesting to see what arises from this situation and whether or not it changes anything in the administrative world of football.  What do you think will happen?

-HD