With reference to the Media Release issued yesterday by the Investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee regarding Mr. Saoud A.Aziz Al-Mohannadi, Qatar Football Association (QFA) Vice-president and former General Secretary, who is currently candidate for a position on the FIFA Council to be voted in the AFC Extraordinary Congress 2016 on next 27 September in Goa, India, the QFA expresses its strong disappointment for the Media Release mentioned above, which was issued without informing Mr. Al-Mohannadi that even the investigation proceedings against him have been concluded.

Mr. Al-Mohannadi has not yet seen the Investigatory chamber’s report, so he is not able to comment on its substance. However, he as well as the QFA are both confident that a full and fair review of the matter will confirm that he has cooperated extensively and candidly with the Ethics Committee and that any charges against him are without legitimate basis. Furthermore, as also stated by the same aforesaid Media Release, until a formal decision is taken by the Adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, Mr. Al-Mohannadi is presumed innocent.

Regarding the candidature of Mr. Al-Mohannadi for the position on the FIFA Council, the QFA stresses that – as also communicated by the AFC General Secretary to the QFA on 12 August 2016 – the Chairman of the FIFA Review Committee concluded the candidature of Mr. Al-Mohannadi complied with the eligibility requirements and therefore could be admitted as candidate for the FIFA Council election, despite it was informed that an investigation proceeding against him was pending before the Investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee.

In the view of all the above, the QFA confirm its full support to the candidature of Mr. Al-Mohannadi for the FIFA Council election.