体坛英语新闻：AFC upholds suspension against former chief despite CAS verdict

KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Thursday that its suspension against Mohamed Bin Hammam remains valid despite the former AFC head had won appeal on his lifetime ban.

AFC said in a statement that it has noted the decision rendered by Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland "by means of which the appeal of Mr Mohamed Bin Hammam has been upheld and the life ban annulled."

The Asian football governing body stated that "Bin Hammam remains under provisional suspension by AFC vide an AFC Disciplinary Committee decision on July 16, 2012, for 30 days for possible violations of the AFC Statutes, AFC Disciplinary Code and AFC Code of Ethics."

AFC has suspended Bin Hammam his alleged corruption during his tenure as its president.

The decision was based on forensic audit of its financial accounts in the past year by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, an international audit firm, AFC said.

Bin Hammam has been banned from any activity related to football for lifetime by FIFA, the world football governing body, after he was found guilty of trying to buy votes by bribery during the FIFA presidential race last year.

The 63-year-old Qatari has since appealed to the CAS.

CAS on Thursday overturned FIFA' s decision, citing insufficient evidence to support the corruption charges against Bin Hammam.

However, he is still facing investigation on new corruption charges in AFC.

Zhang Jilong, who took over Bin Hammam after FIFA' s decision, vowed Thursday on an AFC Executive Committee meeting to prevent the abuse of official positions.

Zhang referred to the disciplinary proceedings against the former President in his opening address and stressed the importance of turning over a new chapter.

"I think this development also makes one thing very clear to all of us - there is no place for unethical practices anymore in AFC," he said.