FIFA Ethics Committee has handed out their fourth ban connected with the bribery scandal by suspending leading Caribbean Football Union (CFU) official Colin Klass of Guyana for 26 months.
Klass, a member of the CFU’s executive committee and head of the Guyana FA for 22 years was also fined 5,000 Swiss francs.
FIFA said in a statement that Klass “was found to have breached various articles of the FIFA code of ethics (articles, 3, 9 and 14) following an investigation related to the special meeting of the CFU held in Trinidad and Tobago on May 10 and 11, 2011.”
After the meeting, which led to Mohammed bin Hammam, being given a life ban for bribery, Klass orchestrated a campaign of support for Trinidad and Tobago government minister Jack Warner, who resigned as FIFA vice-president in June after himself being charged with arranging for bribes to be paid.
According to a witness statement, Klass was seen emerging from the boardroom where envelopes containing US$40,000 were being handed out to Caribbean associations.
Klass later denied to investigators having received any cash gifts but it is understood the brown envelope for the Guyana FA had been distributed.
A further 15 Caribbean officials under investigation are awaiting hearing dates.
