LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam has won his case against a lifetime ban from soccer for allegedly bribing voters during his challenge to Sepp Blatter.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport says its panel overturned the ban because of a lack of evidence — but wasn’t convinced he is innocent of corruption.
Still, the CAS ruling overturns FIFA verdicts which had exiled the 63-year-old Qatari.
Bin Hammam now faces fresh bribery charges leveled by the Asian Football Confederation.
FIFA got evidence from Caribbean whistleblowers who said they were offered $40,000 cash bribes during his campaign visit to Trinidad in May 2011.
Bin Hammam denied wrongdoing, claiming Blatter helped orchestrate a scandal to guarantee his election victory a few weeks later.
