FIFA: Wolfgang Niersbach appeal rejected, former president of German federation remains suspended

"The FIFA Appeal Committee, chaired by Larry Mussenden (Bermuda), has rejected the appeal lodged by Wolfgang Niersbach and confirmed the decision taken by the adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee," announced the international federation on 16/12/2016.

"Mr Niersbach's ban for a period of one year is maintained as from 25/07/2016, in accordance with art. 6 par. 1 h of the FIFA Code of Ethics and art. 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code," added FIFA.

Wolfgang Niersbach was found guilty of not reporting the facts relating to possible wrongdoing in connection with the awarding to Germany, on 06/07/2000, the organisation of the 2006 World Cup. The Ethics Committee specifies that it did not look into acts of corruption, but rather the non-communication of suspicious information to the judicial bodies of FIFA.

• "This decision seems harsh, because after the hearing in Zurich, I was convinced that no suspension would be imposed by the Ethics Committee. I therefore consider that the sentence is inappropriate and excessive," stated Wolfgang Niersbach upon hearing of the…