18 Dec 2012

Bin Hammam banned again by FIFA, steps down from AFC

10:58 am on 18 December 2012

In the latest development surrounding Mohamed Bin Hammam, the former FIFA presidential candidate has resigned from all his positions in football and been given a life ban.

The 63-year-old former Asian soccer chief was first banned by FIFA in July last year for alleged bribery during a failed bid to oust Sepp Blatter in the presidential race.

That punishment was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July, but FIFA has now handed out another life ban, saying bin Hammam would never be active in organised football again.

FIFA says this latest suspension related to "conflicts of interest" while the Qatari was president of the Asian Football Confederation.

Bin Hammam was originally accused of trying to buy the presidential votes of Caribbean officials by handing them $40,000 each in brown envelopes at a meeting in Port of Spain, one month before he was due to challenge Blatter in last year's FIFA presidential election.