Shamed official Bhamjee faces explusion from FIFA
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-19 10:36

The ex-president of the Botswana Football Association who admitted selling World Cup tickets on the black market is likely to become the first man forced to resign from FIFA's Executive Committee in its 102-year history.

Ismail Bhamjee, 62, who admitted selling 12 tickets at three times their face value for last week's match between England and Trinidad & Tobago in Nuremberg, has been ordered to leave Germany as soon as possible by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

According to FIFA sources, Blatter is so furious with the harm Bhamjee has done to the image of world soccer's governing body that he will force him to resign from the executive committee before his term of office expires in January.

Bhamjee is facing formal investigations by FIFA's Ethics Committee, Disciplinary Committee and Executive Committee.

He was suspended from all his World Cup duties on Saturday when Blatter told him to leave Germany.

FORMAL PROCEEDINGS

Markus Siegler, FIFA's Director of Communications said at Sunday's daily media briefing: "I do not know whether or not he is still in the country, but I imagine he will leave today or tomorrow. Formal proceedings will get going as soon as possible.

"It is deeply embarrassing when a high ranking official is involved in something like this. It puts FIFA in a very bad light. On the other hand, FIFA proved that we take these things very seriously and acted very quickly.

"I do not believe this incident will overshadow the great success of this World Cup, but it was not a nice day yesterday and it was a very big disappointment."

Bhamjee has signed a statement admitting selling 12 tickets for last Thursday's England match for 300 euros ($379.90) each, three times the face value, FIFA said in a statement.

Executive committee members are paid $500 a day expenses while on official FIFA duty. In addition they are paid $100,000 a year while members of the board.
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