DILI (3 Oct 2011) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland had this week rejected an appeal on provisional measures filed by Mohamed Bin Hammam on 19 August 2011 against the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Since the decision of the FIFA Ethics Committee on 29 May 2011 to provisionally ban Hammam from all football activities worldwide, AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong has deputised carrying out the daily duties and responsibilities of the AFC President as prescribed by the AFC Statutes.
And, following the FIFA Ethics Committee decision of 23 July 2011, which banned Hammam from all football activity for life, Jilong was confirmed by the AFC Executive Committee unanimously as the AFC delegate to the FIFA Executive Committee.
Hammam’s life ban was confirmed by the FIFA Appeals Committee on 15 September 2011.
The CAS appeal of Hammam challenged Mr Jilong’s designation as AFC Acting President, and nomination by the AFC Executive Committee to the FIFA Executive Committee.
Hammam requested the CAS to annul the AFC Executive Committee’s decision and recognise only himself as the AFC President and representative on the FIFA Executive Committee.
Hammam also requested a stay order (provisional measures) pending the final CAS hearing.
AFC has strictly followed the AFC Statutes at all times in relation to Jilong’s designation as AFC Acting President and nomination to the FIFA Executive Committee.
Hence, AFC welcomes the CAS decision on provisional measures and is confident of its prospects of success at the CAS hearing on the merits of the appeal.
The CAS decision to dismiss Hammam’s request for a provisional stay is a procedural order and not an award, meaning that it is not subject to further appeal.
