FIFA said that it has been in "regular contact" with the Asian Football Confederation over the Bahraini footballer arrested in Thailand in November over a prison sentence in his homeland, according to Alexander Cornwell of REUTERS. Professional Footballers Australia this week called on the AFC to "intervene to help secure the release of Hakeem Al Araibi," who plays in Australia but was arrested in November in Bangkok on an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain’s request. Araibi, who played for Bahrain’s national team and was a "critic of the government," was convicted of "vandalizing a police station and sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia." He denied wrongdoing (REUTERS, 1/16).
AFGHAN BAN: The AP reported Afghanistan Football Federation President Keramuudin Karim, "implicated in sexual and physical abuse of female players," lost a first legal battle with FIFA. The world governing body said that chief ethics judge Vassilios Skouris dismissed Karim's appeal against a 90-day interim ban while an investigation continues (AP, 1/15).
FUNDING SUSPENSION: In Karachi, Umaid Wasim reported after the AFC confirmed it suspended funding to the Pakistan Football Federation in the wake of a newly-elected body led by Ashfaq taking over its Pakistan affiliate on the orders of the Supreme Court at the turn of the year, FIFA on Tuesday said that it has "done the same." A FIFA spokesperson said, "Due to the current situation at the PFF, FIFA can confirm that funding from the FIFA Forward program has currently been suspended. We have no further comment on the matter and that any further updates will be communicated in due course" (DAWN, 1/16).
