FIFA Wants Two-year Ban for Wolfgang Niersbach

(ATR)FIFA investigators have recommended a two-year ban for former German FA chief Wolfgang Niersbach.

FIFA’s adjudicatory chamber on Friday opened disciplinary proceedings against Niersbach, who was engulfed in the Germany 2006 World Cup vote-buying scandal as a vice-president of the local organizing committee. He quit as federation president in November over the €6.7 million ($7.52 million) payment by Germany 2006 to FIFA alleged to have been used to bribe voters, but has denied any wrongdoing.

Niersbach will remain on the FIFA Council and UEFA Executive Committee pending the outcome of the proceedings and a possible appeal to sanctions.

Cornel Borbély, chairman of the investigatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics panel, had opened an investigation in March, with the final report being passed to the adjudicatory chamber on April 22 recommending a ban and fine of 30,000 Swiss francs ($30,248) for breaching four ethics violations.

"Mr. Niersbach will be invited to submit his position including any evidence with regard to the final report of the investigatory chamber and may request a hearing," FIFA said on Friday.

In March, FIFA’s ethics committee launched a probe into the cash-for-votes scandal, opening formal proceedings against six individuals including Niersbach and Germany 2006 president and former FIFA ExCo official Franz Beckenbauer.

FIFA said it was investigating Niersbach about a possible failure to report a breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics by other officials.

Earlier this week, Niersbach participated in a UEFA ExCo meeting in Basel, which set the timetable for the UEFA presidential election. A new president to replace disgraced Michel Platini, banned for four years, will be elected on Sept. 14 at an extraordinary congress in Athens.

Written by Mark Bisson

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