FIFA suspends Jack, Bin Hamman pending probe; says it's not a determination of guilt or innocence

FIFA temporarily suspended top executive committee members Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner Sunday following a meeting of its ethics committee in Zurich.

However the committee made it clear that its decision is not an indication of proof or guilt on the part of both men since the committee did not have jurisdiction to make such a determination.

The FIFA Ethics Committee is a judicial body, which is independent of the rest of the organisation. Its task is to impartially evaluate evidence and facts and make a determination on the issues placed before it.

At a news conference Sunday in Zurich, FIFA said the world governing body for football said it will now open a full investigation into allegations that financial incentives were offered to members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).

FIFA also suspended CFU officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, who did not appear before the body Sunday.

However, the committee decided that it would take no action against the President of FIFA Sepp Blatter, who now stands to be re-elected unopposed since his only challenger, bin Hamman pulled out of the race Sunday morning. FIFA confirmed that the presidential election will go ahead as planned on Wednesday.

The Ethics Committee said its role in the matter was to determine whether any of the accused had breached the organisation's ethic rules. It said based on the evidence presented both in writing and orally it concluded that the four have a case to answer.

It made it clear, however, that Sunday's ruling is not an indication or whether anyone is guilty of anything. It insisted that each of the four is considered innocent. It said Warner and the others will have an opportunity to defend themselves at the inquiry and confront their accusers. FIFA said its next step is to ensure that the investigation is not compromised.

The Ethics probe developed over accusations made by American FIFA executive member Chuck Blazer, who compiled a file for FIFA accusing Warner and bin Hammam of offering bribes for votes at a meeting of the CFU in Trinidad on 10 and 11 May.

Blazer claimed that the football executives offered up to US$40,000 to members of the CFU at the meeting in Trinidad.

Bin Hammam countered that Blatter was aware of some wrongdoing but did not report it. He said that in itself constituted a breach of FIFA's ethics code.

Warner has always insisted that he has done nothing wrong.