Soccer

FIFA overturns 1-year ban of Qatari official

FIFA says its appeal panel lifted a one-year ban imposed on Al-Mohannadi last November for failing to co-operate with a previous, unspecified ethics investigation. FIFA appeal judges also lifted Al-Mohannadi's $19,900 US fine, ruling that "the evidence available was not sufficient."

Al-Mohannadi was barred as a FIFA council election candidate last November

The delayed Asian elections will now take place on May 8 in Manama, Bahrain, ahead of FIFA's annual congress. (Walter Bieri/The Associated Press)

The FIFA appeal committee says Saoud Al-Mohannadi of Qatar was wrongly barred as a FIFA Council election candidate last year.

FIFA says its appeal panel lifted a one-year ban imposed on Al-Mohannadi last November for failing to co-operate with a previous, unspecified ethics investigation.

His case emerged last September, days before Asian Football Confederation members were electing delegates to represent them on FIFA's ruling committee. When Al-Mohannadi was blocked, the AFC postponed voting in protest.

The delayed Asian elections will now take place on May 8 in Manama, Bahrain, ahead of FIFA's annual congress.

Still, Al-Mohannadi is not on the approved candidate list because he remained banned when the entry deadline passed in January.

FIFA appeal judges also lifted Al-Mohannadi's $19,900 fine, ruling that "the evidence available was not sufficient."