Zurich-based Fifa has banned Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam for life from football after finding him guilty of attempted bribery.
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The world football governing body’s ethics committee announced the decision on Saturday evening.
Bin Hammam had been accused of trying to buy votes during his challenge to the current Fifa president, the Swiss Sepp Blatter.
The Qatari later withdrew from the election, allowing Blatter to be re-elected without opposition.
Saturday’s verdict “was in keeping with the declared policy of the committee to show zero tolerance of unethical behaviour”, said panel chairman Petrus Damaseb.
Bin Hammam, a 15-year veteran of the Fifa executive committee, is the most senior football official convicted of corruption in its 107-year history.
His lawyer said bin Hammam rejected the findings based on “so-called circumstantial evidence” and maintained his innocence. The Qatari would continue to fight his case, he said.
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