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FIFA President Sepp Blatter to Face Ethics Hearing

28 May 2011 02:56 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Football’s world governing body (FIFA) has placed its own president, Sepp Blatter, under investigation for alleged corruption just days before its presidential elections, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.

Blatter is accused of turning a blind eye to alleged bribes being paid to Caribbean voters and must submit a statement by Saturday before facing an ethics committee hearing in Zurich on Sunday.

Election rival Mohamed bin Hammam was summoned Wednesday, along with FIFA official Jack Warner, after fellow executive committee member Chuck Blazer reported possible misdeeds during a May 10-11 meeting in Trinidad.

British media reports said Bin Hammam and Warner are accused of offering $40,000 cash gifts to national associations at the Trinidad conference in return for their votes.

On Thursday, Bin Hammam said Blatter was aware of the alleged payments and should therefore be investigated himself.

British Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said the election had â€œdescended into a farceâ€ and should be postponed.