FUFA named in brewing FIFA vote-for-cash scandal

By Vision Reporter and AFP UGANDA is one of six African countries that are being accused of having taken bribes to defy a CAF directive and vote for Sepp Blatter in the 1998 FIFA polls.CAF, under Issa Hayatou, had struck a deal with UEFA to give European soccer president Lennart Johansson a block vote. Twaha Kakaire was then FUFA boss.The damaging report alleges that FIFA president Sepp Blatter was central to the bribery scandal which eased his path towards taking over the most powerful job in world football. Blatter, it is alleged, came to power after courting the influence of his predecessor, Brazilian Joao Havelange. Key to the allegations is president of the Somalian Football Association Farah Addo, who told the Daily Mail newspaper that votes from the six countries were guaranteed once they had been persuaded not to vote for Blatter’s rival. In the letter, Addo claims a meeting was organised “under the request of Dr (Joao) Havelange and Mr Blatter in Kigali, Rwanda, early in 1998 at which the East African nations were enticed to desert Blatter’s rival, Johansson.” The paper reports: “ ... the president of the CECAFA zone, Sudan’s Omar Abou Harraz, secretary general SJ Obingo and a vice-president of the Rwandan FA benefited from an all-expenses-paid trip by FIFA and were lodged at the Hotel Montparnasse for the duration of the World Cup in thanks for their contribution to Mr Blatter’s campaign.” The Somalian also alleges he was offered 100,000 dollars to switch his vote. Blatter has denied all charges.ends