FIFA bans ex-executive Amos Adamu for two years

FIFA's ethics committee said Tuesday that its latest ban was the result of Adamu's "involvement in the organization of an event in 2010".

In this Oct. 24, 2006 file photo, FIFA Executive Committee member Dr. Amos Adamu, left, presents a FIFA pennant to then South African President Thabo Mbeki, at the opening of a 2010 soccer World Cup Kick Off Workshop in Cape Town, South Africa. | AP

ZURICH: Former FIFA executive committee member Amos Adamu has received a second ban for unethical conduct.

FIFA's ethics committee said Tuesday that its latest ban was the result of Adamu's "involvement in the organization of an event in 2010" which violated the rules of conduct and constituted a conflict of interest.

A FIFA investigation report, published in 2014, cited an article in British newspaper The Sunday Times which alleged that Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid team paid $1 million to Adamu's son to "sponsor" an "African Legends Dinner" in 2010 in Johannesburg.

Adamu was an executive committee member in 2010 when Russia and Qatar won hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The Nigerian did not vote as he was suspended by the ethics committee for seeking bribes in a separate undercover sting by The Sunday Times. Adamu was later banned for three years and lost his positions with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football. Qatar has consistently denied any wrongdoing in its winning bid.