GENEVA (AP) _ FIFA banned Caribbean football official Colin Klass for two years and two months on Friday for his part in a bribery scandal involving former presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.
Klass was found guilty of three breaches of FIFA’s code of ethics, including confidentiality rules and not disclosing “evidence of violations of conduct.”
FIFA expelled Klass through October 2013 and also fined him 5,000 Swiss francs ($5,500). He can appeal.
Klass will lose his seat on FIFA’s futsal and beach soccer committee and the presidency of Guyana’s football federation, which he has led since 1989.
FIFA is investigating another 15 Caribbean officials it suspects were offered or accepted $40,000 cash payments to back bin Hammam’s challenge to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
Bin Hammam was banned for life by a FIFA ethics panel in July and lost his appeal last week. He has said he will challenge FIFA’s verdicts at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FIFA is expected to hear the remaining Caribbean cases next month, including that of Guyana FA general secretary Noel Adonis.
