FIFA Ethics Committee Recommends Two-Year Ban For Former German PA President

FIFA's ethics committee has recommended a two-year ban from all football activities for the former German FA President Wolfgang Niersbach "for an alleged bribe paid to secure the right to host the 2006 World Cup," according to the PA. Niersbach, a member of the FIFA Council, resigned from his role in November, saying that he took "political responsibility" for the scandal but "denied any personal wrongdoing." FIFA Ethics Chief Investigator Cornel Borbély opened the investigation in March and last month passed on his report to the adjudicatory chamber, which has now decided to proceed with "formal adjudicatory proceedings" against Niersbach. In his report, Borbély has called for a two-year ban and a £21,000 ($30,470) fine for "breaches of four articles" of the FIFA code of ethics. The decision to proceed with the case was taken by Ethics Panel Deputy Chair Alan Sullivan, and Niersbach can "now ask for a hearing and submit his own evidence" (PA, 5/20).