FIFA: ADAMU EXPECTS FAIR HEARING

Suspended FIFA official Amos Adamu has said he expects to get a fair hearing at the appeal committee which meets on Wednesday to determine his appeal.

The former Director General of the National Sports Commission was suspended from football-related matters for three years by FIFA's Ethics Committee on allegation of money-for-votes in the build up to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.

Adamu told our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday that he was prepared to exonerate himself.

He said, 'I don't want to say much about the appeal but I know I'll get a fair hearing when the committee meets.

'It is important I clear my name in this matter and I believe that will be done at the meeting.'

Sports Minister Taoheed Adedoja had described the allegations against Adamu as overblown, saying the issue had affected Nigeria's image.

He said, 'I feel very uncomfortable that allegation was overblown beyond what actually happened. What happened is not about Amos Adamu but Nigeria as a nation. We are talking about Nigeria's image and about a Nigerian who is an executive of FIFA.'

Adamu was suspended along with Oceania Football Confederation President Reynald Temarii in November last year following an investigative report in the British Sunday Times.

While Tamarii was suspended for one year, Adamu bagged a three-year suspension.