Cash given to members of the Caribbean Football Union during Mohamed Bin Hammam’s campaign for the FIFA presidency was simply payment to cover their expenses.
The 62-year-old Qatari was on Saturday banned for life from all football-related activity after being found guilty by FIFA’s ethics committee of attempting to bribe 25 members of the CFU in Trinidad in May.
“We did not do anything wrong,” he said in an interview with Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme. “We played in compliance with the rules and regulations of FIFA.
“I did not provide money for distribution, or for buying votes or for bribing.
“I paid the expenses of the congresses, the travel expenses, daily allowances.”
Several members of the CFU claim they were offered sums of money for “development projects” at the meeting.
Bin Hammam, who alleged his fate was decided even before the ethics committee heard his case, claimed the decision was an act of revenge for standing against Sepp Blatter.
“Exactly, there is nothing else,” he said. “The ban for life has already been written before the investigation started.
“I was expecting it actually. The ban for life, that shows how much these people are angry, how much they are full of revenge.”
Asked if he thought the ethics committee was a kangaroo court, Bin Hammam added: “Do you see any other thing? I think that is quite evident what kind of court it was.”
The Qatari revealed he would now take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“The first step for me is the appeals committee of FIFA which is another kangaroo court,” he said.
“Then after that when we go to CAS things are going to be much improved. At that time I think FIFA will not have the full stage themselves.
“Then I should go to the civil courts in Switzerland where we have full confidence to make the necessary justice.”
The Asian Football Confederation president also insisted he would not resign.
“I am not resigning, I am not going to resign. I will quit with the final say of Switzerland,” he said.
Read the article:
Hammam Explains Payments To Caribbean Football Union As ‘expenses’