Alleged AFC Cover-up Effort Highlights Asian Soccer’s Lack of Proper Governance

Huffington Post

24 April 2015

James M. Dorsey

A senior executive of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) allegedly requested in 2012 at least one of his subordinates to tamper with or hide documents related to enquiries by independent auditors and FIFA into management of the group by Mohamed Bin Hammam, the AFC’s ousted president and vice president of the world soccer body, according to claims made by a subordinate in two statements and sources with first-hand knowledge close to the Kuala Lumpur-based group.

The official who reportedly requested the tampering or hiding of documents bearing his name or signature, AFC general secretary, Dato’ Alex Soosay, subsequently alleged in a police report on Aug 17, 2012, that Mr. Bin Hammam had embezzled some $10 million, the Malaysian Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) told the Malay Mail. The police handed the case over to the Malaysian attorney general who decided not to take further action.

Mr. Soosay this week vehemently denied the alleged cover up in a telephone conversation with the Malay Mail as he was boarding a flight from Dubai to Bahrain. “If there was something, wouldn’t they have investigated me? This is just a smear (campaign) against me. There is no such thing, “Mr. Soosay said. “Where is this coming from and why now?” he asked.

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Last updated on 05/05/2015