Fifa rejects bin Hammam appeal
The Zurich-based football world governing body, Fifa, has rejected Mohamed bin Hammam's appeal against his lifetime ban from football.
A three-man Fifa panel met for seven hours before upholding the July ruling by its ethics committee.
"The sanction of being banned from taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) at national and international level for life has therefore been maintained," said the governing body in a statement on Thursday.
Fifa imposed the ban on bin Hammam after finding him guilty of buying votes in his campaign to unseat Swiss Sepp Blatter as head of the world governing body.
That came just months after he helped secure 2022 World Cup hosting rights for his home country Qatar.
Bin Hammam, who did not attend the hearing, will appeal again at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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