FIFA suspend high-ranking pair, clear Blatter

FIFA have suspended Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner from all football-related activities after ruling they had a case to answer over bribery allegations.

But allegations of corruption against FIFA president Sepp Blatter were dismissed at a news conference in Zurich by Namibian judge Petrus Damaseb – a FIFA ethics committee member.

FIFA also insisted they would press on with their planned presidential election on Wednesday, and claimed they would launch a full inquiry into the accusations.

Asian Football Confederation president Bin Hammam had been due to take on Blatter in the election, but he pulled out on Sunday.

Bin Hammam and CONCACAF president Warner, both members of FIFA’s executive committee, are alleged to have tried to bribe members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to vote for Bin Hammam in the election.

Bin Hammam responded by claiming Blatter was aware of corruption within the organisation but failed to report it, which in itself is a breach of FIFA’s code of ethics.

“We are satisfied that there is a case to answer against (Bin Hammam and Warner),” Damaseb said.

“There is going to be a full inquiry.”

“No investigation against Blatter is warranted.”

“The committee is satisfied there is a case to answer, therefore a case will be held in due course where they will be expected to answer the charges against them.”

Despite the cloud of corruption surrounding the organisation, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said he could see no reason to postpone the election.

“The allegation against Blatter has been cleaned by the committee,” Valcke said. “Why should we postpone the election?”

It was estimated the hearing into the bribery allegations against Bin Hammam and Warner will last for around 30 days.