FIFA’s Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee has recommended imposing a lifelong ban from all football-related activities on an aide to disgraced former Presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam ©Getty Images

FIFA’s Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee has recommended imposing a lifelong ban from all football-related activities on an aide to disgraced former Presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

The body has called for action to be taken against Najeeb Chirakal for allegedly violating seven articles of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

It comes following the conclusion of an enquiry by Vanessa Allard, a member of the Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee and the chief of investigation, focused mainly on Chirakal's involvement in payments made to several football officials.

The final report, together with recommendations, was submitted to the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee, chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert.

""In her final report, Ms Allard has recommended imposing on Mr Chirakal a lifelong ban on taking part in any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) for the alleged violation of articles 13 (general rules of conduct), 18 (duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting), 19 (conflicts of interest), 20 (offering and accepting gifts and other benefits), 21 (bribery and corruption), 41 (obligation of the parties to collaborate) and 42 (general obligation to collaborate) of the FIFA Code of Ethics," said an FIFA statement.

"Until a formal decision is taken by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee, Mr Chirakal is presumed innocent."

The final report, together with recommendations, was submitted to the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee, which is chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert ©Getty Images
The final report, together with recommendations, was submitted to the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee, which is chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert ©Getty Images

Chirakal was previously suspended by FIFA in 2012 for failing to collaborate with an investigation into bin Hammam, the ex-Asian Football Confederation chief banned for bribery by FIFA ahead of the Presidential elections five years ago, when he was standing against Sepp Blatter.

Bin Hammam, who withdrew three days before the vote, offered money to several Caribbean Football Union members in an attempt to win their votes.

The Qatari was banned for life in 2012 for his part in the cash-for-votes scandal. 

In March, an independent report was published into allegations that a slush fund of €6.7 million (£5.6 million/$7.4 million) was set up in order to bribe members of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee in the 2006 World Cup bid race.

It uncovered a series of suspicious payments allegedly made by World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer, the head of the Organising Committee for the tournament in Germany, to bin Hammam.

The German bid defeated South Africa by a narrow margin of 12 votes to 11 back in 2000 after New Zealand's Charlie Dempsey abstained from the second round of voting after stating there had been "intolerable pressure" prior to the ballot.