By Andrew Warshaw
October 3 – The campaign by FIFA’s new Ethics Committee to get to the bottom of Mohamed Bin Hammam’s alleged improper cash dealings has led to the suspension of his former personal assistant at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Najeeb Chirakal, understood to be based in Qatar, has been sanctioned for two months for not assisting the inquiry into the former AFC President’s conduct – unless he cooperates during the time.
“Najeeb Chirakal…has today been banned by the FIFA Ethics Committee from taking part in all football-related activity, at any level, due to his lack of collaboration with the on-going investigation proceedings opened against Mohamed Bin Hammam,” said a FIFA statement.
“This failure to cooperate constitutes a breach to the FIFA Code of Ethics.
“The ban is effective immediately and will last for two months or until Chirakal cooperates with these proceedings as requested, whichever is earlier.”
The move constitutes the first serious sanction imposed by FIFA’s new independent prosecutor, Michael Garcia, in a bid to clean up the organisation.
Although Bin Hammam (pictured below) had a life ban for bribery allegations overturned earlier this year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), he was banned again in July for allegations of financial misconduct while he was AFC chief.
As a result fresh proceedings were opened against him, although he vehemently denies any suggestion of wrongdoing
“Chirakal had been contacted by the Secretary to the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, asking him to provide information and documents, and failed to respond,” said the FIFA statement.
“The letter notifying Chirakal of the ban also informs him that investigation proceedings may be opened against him for possible violations of the FIFA Code of Ethics if he continues to fail to cooperate with the investigation.
“This is the first instance of sanctions being imposed on a football official for failure to cooperate with an investigation under the 2012 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics.”
Days after being appointed in July, Garcia pledged that he would use all tools available to get to the truth.
”It is incredibly important for this (ethics) code to contain penalties, sanctions, clear lines of obligations and duty to cooperate,” he said.
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