Former FBI director to investigate bin Hammam

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has brought in former FBI director Louis Freeh to assist in the investigation of the corruption accusations against the suspended AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam. Bin Hammam is accused of spending around $700.000 in AFC funds to enrich himself and his family and to reward supporters, among other charges.

The allegations were uncovered in an internal audit of the AFC, and resulted in the Confederation giving bin Hammam a 30-days provisional ban. The ban was given only three days before the Court of Arbitration for Sport reversed the lifetime ban imposed on him by FIFA over accusations of vote buying and bribery when he ran against Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency in 2011.

The acting president of the AFC, Zhang Jilong, called on the 46 federations to cooperate with the investigation against bin Hammam.

"We would like to point out that it is crucial that the Freeh Group receive unconditional and unreserved support and cooperation by all AFC officials, bodies, and Member Associations,'' Jilong said Monday in a statement.

"The proceedings presently relevant are not about incriminating or discrediting certain persons but aim at establishing the truth and, on a broader scale, at safeguarding the integrity and interests of football under the AFC's jurisdiction.''

Source: Sports Illustrated/AP