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FIFA Bans Former Soccer Official for 4 Years in Bribery Case

by Associated Press

   ZURICH --

   FIFA's ethics committee has imposed a four-year ban on a soccer
   official for accepting a bribe, reportedly from former presidential
   candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

   FIFA says Manuel Dende, former president of the Sao Tomean Football
   Association, is also fined 75,000 Swiss francs ($75,000).
   FIFA gave no details about the charges Dende faced, of bribery and
   corruption plus accepting gifts.
   Dende took a $50,000 cash gift from Bin Hammam, according to authors of
   "The Ugly Game" book about the now-banned Qatari official's dealings at
   FIFA.
   In 2009, the book states, Dende asked Bin Hammam for $232,000 in his
   personal bank account to help build artificial pitches on his home
   island in west Africa.
   Citing Bin Hammam correspondence, the book said $50,000 was eventually
   wired months later.