Mussenden Heads FIFA Appeal Panel
Former Bermuda Attorney General Larry Mussenden is presiding over a FIFA appeal hearing which opened today [Feb.2] in Zurich for five officials suspended over corruption allegations during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding races.
Mr. Mussenden, President of the Bermuda Football Association, was appointed to head the independent appeals committee last year.
Among those appealing bans handed down by football’s world governing body are FIFA executive committee members Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti. FIFAs ethics committee barred both men from voting in the December 2 ballot which awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 event to Qatar.
Mr. Adamu, who received a three-year ban from all soccer duty, is the most senior FIFA official ever sanctioned on bribery charges. A former Nigerian sports minister, he has said he is confident of victory at the appeal.
Mr. Tamarii received a one-year ban from FIFA for breaking confidentiality rules but was cleared of corruption allegations.
Three other former members of FIFA’s executive panel also are appealing bans of up to three years at the appeals hearing which is expected to last for two days.
Great for him and for Blatter & Uncle Jack..Quid pro quo I suspect…
Oh, by the way, when will he do something good for the local association?
By local association do you mean getting other Bermudians on FIFA committees? Well in hand!
We were represented on the Stadium and Security Committee for the FIFA World Cup 2010 ™.
On television and everything….
Should have been more succinct.. Association should start with the players however football players fall far down the pecking order after executives, friends of executives, referees, coaches & friends of coaches..
Is it Mr. Mussenden’s responsibility to ensure that players are fit enough to play for 90 minutes? i don’t think so. That’s where it needs to start; some individual pride and committment and while we’re at it some recognition that playing for country comes before club. That is why local sport is in the toilet. Mr. Mussenden is doing the right thing by playing on the international field; but I guess some feel he should limit himself to the Appeal Committee in Bermuda only. so sad.
The problem is that no-one can see the benefits being derived locally from our courting of the FIFA executive in Switzerland.
We could assume that the FIFA funding for the BFA field and admin building is a result of the relationships that have been built at that level, but who’s to say?
What would be more useful from an outsiders perspective is a focus on increasing our profile, both from and administrative and playing standpoint, within the CFU and CONCACAF. These are the two football bodies that are most directly relevant to us.
Not since the 1980′s have we engaged with either body in a real and meaningful way.
Not doubt traveling to St Kitts doesn’t have the same appeal as jetting off to more far flung destinations, but there you have it.