By Andrew Warshasw in Zurich
November 30 – FIFA vice-president Issa Hayatou is threatening legal action against the BBC’s Panorama programme over their claim he accepted bribes.
Speaking to reporters in his plush Zurich hotel today, Hayatou, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), insisted the money was given to CAF to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Hayatou is already being investigated by International Olympic Committee (IOC) – of which he is also a member – following the allegations in Panorama.
According to the broadcast, a list of secret payments made by now defunct marketing company ISL included one of 100,000 French francs in 1995.
But Hayatou insisted it was not a bribe and that his conscience was clear.
“This money was not for me, it was for the 40th anniversary of CAF,” he said.
” At that time ISL was the sponsor of CAF and they give the money to CAF and not to me, and the executive committee of CAF accepted it and approved it.”
“I have got an appointment with my lawyers and I will take it from there.”
Hayatou said the payment he received was actually for 25,000 Swiss francs ($25,040) and that it had been a legitimate and approved payment.
“Panorama wanted to make people believe that we were corrupt,” he said.
“What they showed was from 16 years ago.
“Why did they not show this before?
“The money was addressed for CAF.
“The Executive Committee knew of it.
“I asked them if I should accept and they said yes.”
Hayatou said he could not speak for his two colleagues Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay and Ricardo Teixeira of Brazil who were also named in the Panorama programme.
“These accusations have dishonoured me,” he said.
“I would not have stayed at the head of CAF for so long if I was corrupt.”
Hayatou, in Zurich to vote on the 2018 and 2022 host nations on Thursday (December 2), said he had received countless phone calls from colleagues expressing their support since the Panorama programme which may not have produced the explosive fallout for England’s 2018 World Cup that many had predicted but has made their task all the harder with so little time left for building bridges – not only with Hayatou but with Africa’s other two voting members here.
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