ZURICH: The Council of Europe will hold a meeting later this month looking into FIFA’s governance of world soccer with suspended Asian soccer boss Mohamed Bin Hammam among those scheduled to participate.
Qatari Bin Hammam, long sidelined by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation in the wake of corruption allegations, would be joined by former FIFA deputy secretary general Jerome Champagne and Transparency International’s Sylvia Schenk at the Dec. 19 meeting in Paris, according to an agenda on the Council’s website.
Ex-English Football Association chairman David Triesman would also participate in the meeting held by the Council’s committee on culture, science, education and media.
The Strasbourg-based Council of Europe is an organization of 47 member states promoting human rights and democracy.
FIFA have long faced questions about their governance with president Sepp Blatter attempting to reform the body after numerous suspensions of senior officials for corruption in recent years.
On Thursday, FIFA’s ethics committee completed its latest investigation into former presidential candidate Bin Hammam and extended his provisional ban pending a final verdict.
The 63-year-old was first banned by FIFA in July, 2011 for alleged bribery during his failed bid to oust Blatter in the presidential race to head world soccer’s governing body.
In July, the life ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport but Bin Hammam has remained sidelined by continuous suspensions handed out first by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), for financial wrongdoing, and then FIFA.
Bin Hammam, who was elected unopposed for a third and final four-year term as the head of the AFC in Jan. 2011, has long pleaded innocence and complained his punishments have come because he challenged Blatter’s leadership.
The AFC said last week they hoped to elect a new president by April, subject to the approval of their legal department.
Champagne, a former director of international relations of FIFA where he was one of Blatter’s chief advisers, left the organization more than two years ago.
Earlier this year he issued a detailed report to all of FIFA’s member associations examining the crises that the body faced and how they could improve the game.
Triesman was part of the England team that bid to host the 2018 World Cup. He gave evidence at a parliamentary inquiry last year into why England missed out on hosting soccer’s showpiece and said four members of FIFA’s executive committee had asked for favors in return for votes.
Bin Hammam to appear at meeting on FIFA governance
Bin Hammam to appear at meeting on FIFA governance
‘Extra motivation’ — Williams ready to turn Dubai crowd against hometown hero Rahmani
- American fighter enters the Feb. 7 bout hoping to rebound from his August loss to Sergey Bilostenniy at the PFL World Tournament Finals in Hollywood
DUBAI: Karl Williams steps into the PFL cage in Dubai on Feb. 7 knowing exactly what he is up against. His opponent, Pouya Rahmani, carries a perfect 5-0 record and momentum from a brutal first-round finish against Slim Trabelsi in October. But the Virgin Islands heavyweight isn’t fazed by the challenge or the expected hostile crowd at Coca-Cola Arena.
“It doesn’t give me an extra motivation,” Williams said when asked about fighting in Rahmani’s adopted home. “The crowd changes according to the fight so hopefully by the end of the fight they’ll be on my side”.
Williams enters the bout looking to rebound from his August knockout loss to Sergey Bilostenniy at the PFL World Tournament Finals in Hollywood, Florida. That defeat marked the first time Williams had been stopped in his professional career, ending via a perfectly timed left hook in the second round. The fight also featured controversy when Williams was accidentally eye-poked during the sequence.
When asked about the biggest lesson he took from that loss, Williams initially joked: “Don’t get eye poked,” before adding, “but (the) biggest lesson was how to battle adversity of a loss in that manner.”
Williams holds a 10-4 professional record and went 3-1 in the UFC before signing with PFL in 2025. Known for his wrestling background and cage control, he is preparing for Rahmani the same way he approaches every fight. The Iranian-born heavyweight finished Slim Trabelsi with ground strikes at 2:47 of the first round in his most recent outing and has never seen a second round in his professional career.
“He’s not the first fighter that I have faced with similar backgrounds or accolades,” Williams explained. “I prepare like I prepare for all fights to be well-rounded and be able to counter what my opponent brings.”
He added: “He doesn’t have many fights so it’s hard to say what his openings are.”
Behind Williams’ preparation stands coach Dennis Davis, the head MMA coach at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Davis has built a reputation developing fighters from the amateur ranks to championship level, coaching UFC champions Sean Strickland and Francis Ngannou, among others. Williams also credited Barbour Orthopaedics for keeping him healthy and able to perform at his best.
“Coach Danny Davis, he’s the one that dissects my game plan and my opponents and sets me up for success,” Williams said. “And Barbour Orthopaedics for making sure that I’m healthy and able to perform the way I want to.”
When asked what message he wanted to send Rahmani ahead of the fight, Williams kept it simple. “I don’t really wanna send any messages,” he said. “Once the cage locks, all will be said.”
On an optimistic note, Williams envisions his fight night in Dubai ending with “having his hand raised and going out and enjoying the wonderful city and people.”
The heavyweight bout appears on the main card below two world title fights, with Usman Nurmagomedov defending his lightweight championship against Alfie Davis in the headliner.
