DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Mohamed bin Hammam says accusations he enriched his family and supporters while president of Asian soccer are politically motivated and that he plans to fight "this clear abuse of power and process at the hand of FIFA."
In a letter to 20 Asian associations, bin Hammam confirms he made payments to soccer officials and others, but said they came out of his own bank accounts and were driven by a desire to help those in need — including Zhang Jilong, the current AFC president who ordered the PriceWaterhouseCoopers audit that instigated the investigation by FIFA's ethics committee.
Bin Hammam writes "Jilong was one of those who came to me for financial support and I helped him with a significant amount from my personal account."
