Mussenden Chairs FIFA Appeal Panel
A FIFA hearing chaired by former Bermuda Attorney General Larry Mussenden for five officers suspended after accusations of corruption throughout the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding competitions got underway yesterday [Jan. 4].
The officers included FIFA executive committee associates Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, who have been barred from the December 2 votes by the governing body’s ethics committee.
Nigerian Mr. Adamu, who has been given a three-year ban from all football duty, became the most senior FIFA officer evered for bribery.
FIFA explained its indpendent appeals committee, chaired by Bermuda Football Association president Mr. Mussenden, opened its two-day hearings on Wednesday but provided no additional details.
Mr, Adamu, a previous sports minister, has been quoted by Nigerian media this week stating he is positive of a victory.
FIFA’s ethics court discovered he sought bribes from undercover reporters who posed as lobbyists in a report carried by British newspaper “The Sunday Times” last October.
If cleared, Mr. Adamu might stand for re-election to the FIFA post he had held since 2006.
Mr. Temarii, from Tahiti, was cleared of corruption but got a one-year ban for ignorning confidentiality guidelines by talking to the faux lobbyists.
He was replaced last month as a FIFA vice-president and Oceania confederation president by his previous deputy, David Chung of Papua New Guinea.
Three previous members of Swiss-based FIFA’s ruling panel are also appealing bans of up to three years.
Slim Aloulou, a Tunisian attorney who chaired FIFA’s disputes panel, is challengingg a two-year ban.
FIFA referees committee member Amadou Diakite of Mali and Ahongalu Fusimalohi, chief executive of the Tonga federation, have been suspended for three years.
They reportedly advised the reporters how to bribe FIFA officers and how much to pay.
A sixth officer, Ismail Bhamjee of Botswana, has not appealed his four-year ban.
Soon after Mr. Adamu and Mr. Temarii have been suspended, a 22-man FIFA executive committee have chosen Russia to hold the 2018 World Cup and Qatar in 2022.
Wonderful, now he might have time to let the football clubs, fans, players know what the BFA’s 3-5 year plan is. It has been 17 mos in office and Mussenden and Co have yet to give us any idea what their plans are for football.
We get that he flies to Switzerland regularly, however Mussenden was elected to run Bermuda football..
Who is us?