Asian voters may boycott FIFA election in rage over Bin Hammam

By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich

May 30 – Growing speculation is emerging that the entire Asian delegation could pull out of the FIFA Congress on Wednesday (June 1) in protest at their President, Mohamed Bin Hammam, being suspended after being charged with offering or paying bribes to Caribbean members to vote for him.

On Sunday, the under-fire Bin Hammam pulled out of the race to face Sepp Blatter and has already been replaced by Zhang Jilong of China as standing temporary President of Asian Football Confederation.

Rumours are now abounding that in response to bin Hammam’s treatment, Asian delegations could withdraw from both the Congress and the election.

UEFA President Michel Platini apparently raised this prospect when he addressed European federations at a downtown hotel here this morning.

Platini referred to 1999 when Asian delegates walked out of the FIFA Congress in protest at being denied more places for the 2002 World Cup.

“I don’t what will happen,” said Platini after meeting his colleagues.

“There are some meetings of the Confederations in the next few days.

“In ’99 Asia left, I don’t know if they will do that again.

“I think the election will go ahead but I don’t know.”

Platini also backed FIFA President Sepp Blatter over claims by the suspended Jack Warner that Blatter had made a $1 million (£607,000) payment to Warner’s CONCACAF Confederation without authorisation of the FIFA Finance Committee.

The allegation was one of many that formed part of Warner’s so-called “football tsunami” after he, like Bin Hammam, was temporarily barred form all football-related activities over the bribes-for-votes sensation.

Warner had claimed Platini was “annoyed” about Blatter’s payment but the UEFA President said Warner had misinterpreted what happened.

“It’s not like that, it was a joke with me and Mr Blatter,” Platini said.

“He can give the projects that he wants to give.

“I said, ‘But Sepp this was not accepted by the Committee’ – but he can give many projects to many national associations and we will confirm in the Goal project after.

“In many Congresses for many, many years the President can give one or two projects to national associations – he has his own budget and he can give to one Confederation and then it has to be approved of course by the Executive Committee next time.”

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734837497labto1734837497ofdlr1734837497owedi1734837497sni@w1734837497ahsra1734837497w.wer1734837497dna1734837497