FIFA rejects Temarii and Adamu appeals
Reuters - Friday 04 February 2011, 17:47
BERNE - FIFA has rejected appeals from
Reynald Temarii and Amos Adamu, the suspended executive
committee members who were at the heart of a corruption scandal
which marred the contest to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Football's governing body said on Friday that Nigerian Adamu,
who was found guilty of bribery, remained banned from all football-related activities for three years. A 10,000 Swiss franc
($10,444) fine was maintained.
Temarii, head of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) at
the time, remains banned for one year following this week's
hearing by the appeals committee. A 5,000 Swiss franc fine was
unaltered.
"The FIFA appeal committee has confirmed the decisions taken
on November 17 regarding the bans on Reynald Temarii and Amos Adamu
- who were at the time FIFA vice-president and FIFA executive
committee member - for a breach of the FIFA code of ethics,"
said football's governing body in a statement.
The pair allegedly offered to sell their votes in the
hosting contest to Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists
for an American consortium.
As a result of their suspensions, only 22 members of the
executive committee voted when in December Russia were chosen to
host the 2018 World Cup and Qatar for 2022.
FIFA reduced the bans and fines for three other officials
found guilty of unethical behaviour, Slim Aloulou, Amadou
Diakite and Ahongalu Fusimalohi.
Aloulou, formerly chairman of the FIFA committee which
settles disputes between clubs, players and coaches, had his
two-year ban and 10,000 Swiss franc fine both halved.
Diakite and Fusimalohi, both originally banned for three
years and fined 10,000 Swiss francs, had their sanctions cut to
a two-year ban and 7,500 Swiss franc fine each.
A fourth official, Ismael Bhamjee, who was banned for four
years and fined 10,000 Swiss francs, did not appeal.
Temarii has already been replaced as OFC president by
Papua-New Guinea's David Chung, who has also taken his place on
the executive committee.
Adamu's replacement is due to be chosen by the Confederation
of African Football in Khartoum on February 23 when another of the
continent's four executive committee members, Jacques Anouma of
Ivory Coast, must seek re-election.
Adamu's Nigerian compatriot Ibrahim Galadima is expected to
stand as a candidate. Also bidding for a place are Danny Jordaan
of South Africa, who was the chief organiser of last year's
World Cup, and former African Footballer of the Year Kalusha
Bwalya of Zambia.
Mohamed Raouraoua of Algeria and Suketu Patel from the
Seychelles are also candidates.