Bin Hammam reveals personal payments

Bin Hammam, the FIFA member who is under fresh investigation by FIFA's ethics committee despite having a lifetime ban overturned in court, has had his financial dealings while Asian Football Confederation president be the subject of a report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Bin Hammam has written to the leaders of several Asian countries claiming he is still being targeted for having challenged Sepp Blatter fo the FIFA presidency and explaining the payments highlighted by PWC - which he claims were from his own personal funds to people who faced personal difficulties.

He also claims the information was stolen from his office and that providing such help is viewed as a duty in his culture.

He wrote in the letter: "All the information regarding these personal payments were in the report were I believe in a file, stolen from my office. Any assistance was personal in nature and from my heart.

"If [I am accused] of supporting you in some way that they believe is inappropriate, or supporting people who are in need and those who are suffering with my own funds, then let me declare that as a human being with the personal means to help and coming from a culture and society where this is seen as a duty, then I am proud of these accusations, and I welcome them.

"Your difficulties were, and still are, my difficulties and your sufferings are mine as well."

Bin Hammam's letter cites the names of five people he helped, including two who have since died of cancer, one who had open heart surgery; another for tuition fees for a FIFA programme, and the family of Jigme Gyalsen Lama, a 16-year-old from Nepal who died while playing football.

"Was it necessary for those who are behind the PWC report to dig the graves of the dead to achieve their political goals?" adds the letter.

Bin Hammam says he also made personal payments to Zhang Jilong, the current AFC president who ordered the PWC investigation.

The letter adds: "Dear friends, one last point, Jilong was one of those who came to me for financial support and I helped him with a significant amount from my personal account. I will leave him to explain the circumstances of this to you if he wishes."

The letter also questions why the AFC has hired the Freeh Group to investigate him when the Court of Arbitration for Sport had criticised the company's investigation of Bin Hammam for FIFA last year and overturned the lifetime FIFA ban.

Bin Hammam continued: "I remain saddened that the focus of FIFA remains on me whilst the FIFA machinery appears blind when it comes to any investigations against others. FIFA were heavily criticised in the CAS Judgment on its evidence gathering by the Freeh group. This relied on speculation rather than fact.

"FIFA's hands are now again all over the new investigation with the appointment by the AFC of FIFA's advisor the Freeh Group.

"I hope these vindictive actions to destroy me and my reputation will not let you lose your faith in Asia or lose your confidence and pride; and that you will continue to strive for your noble goal of seeing Asia as a leader in the football world."

Bin Hammam has also vowed to clear his name after after FIFA's ethics committee opened investigation proceedings against him.

He added: "My legal team has filed an immediate response to the actions of the AFC and FIFA in relation to my latest politically-motivated ban.

"I will announce further steps very shortly to challenge this clear abuse of power and process at the hand of FIFA."