Shamed Banned FIFA Members Begin Appeals with CAS

Amos Adamu, one of the disgraced former FIFA Exco members banned from the body for three years for seeking bribes during the 2018/2022 World Cup bid campaign, has appealed to sport’s highest appeal body to overturn the sanction.

The Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) confirmed yesterday, May 5, that the Nigerian will appeal against his three year ban from all soccer-related activity. 

Adamu was caught in the midst of last year’s World Cup bid race by Sunday Times journalists posing as lobbyists for the USA bid asking for an US$800,000 bribe in return for his support on the December 2 vote.

Along with Oceania’s representative, Reynald Temarii, Adamu was suspended just two weeks prior to the voting process. Four other senior football administrators – Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite,Ismail Bhamjee and Ahongalu Fusimalohi – also received bans of up to four years after being caught out by the reporters.

Fusimalohi is also appealing against a two year ban given after he was caught on camera claiming that Morocco sought to bribe officials when bidding for the 2010 World Cup. He also discussed receiving $100,000 from the covert reporters. 

The CAS released a statement, saying: “In both cases, the appellants request that they be found not guilty and the sanctions against them be annulled.

“The cases will be handled in accordance with the procedural rules set out in the Code of Sports-related Arbitration.”