World NewsBin Hammam Demands Corruption Answers |
FIFA should investigate allegations of vote-buying and corruption to the bitter end, according to the head of Asian football.
Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam, who last week narrowly beat off a challenge to retain his seat on FIFA's executive committee, said the investigation should continue despite earlier reports that he was happy for it to be dropped.Bin Hammam, from Qatar, said at the Soccerex forum at Wembley Stadium: "These are very serious allegations and I have never said I am not interested in continuing the investigation.
"I think this is affecting the sport, I think everyone has a job to investigate these allegations.
"If they are wrong, then blame me but if they are right then you have to do your job to the maximum."
Asked if FIFA's ethics committee should lead the probe, he said: "I invite them, I urge them and I wish they are going to go ahead and investigate."
Bin Hammam beat Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain by 23 votes to 21 last week in a contest that was marked by allegations of misconduct by both sides.
Bin Hammam made claims of 'vote-buying' by his rivals masterminded by the Olympic Council of Asia, and complaints have been registered by both sides with FIFA's ethics committee.
Bin Hammam added: "I can assure you that at least 10 national associations did not vote for me because of the interference of their Olympic committees and their bad behaviour.
"I believe the world of football needs to enhance its independence. I think FIFA failed this time to protect the interest of football."
One of the most bitter attacks came on Bin Hammam by Korea's FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-Joon, who questioned the Asian president's sanity.
Bin Hammam held out an olive branch today, however, saying: "I also said something not nice about him so I hope we are equal and can forget this."
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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