FIFA judge confirms Bin Hammam 90-day suspension

ZURICH (AP) -- FIFA's anti-corruption judge Joachim Eckert has made his first decision in office, to confirm that former presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam is provisionally suspended while bribery allegations are investigated.

FIFA says Eckert invited bin Hammam "to submit a written statement" on the case before making his ruling.

FIFA suspended bin Hammam from all football duties for 90 days last month at the request of its new ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia.

Garcia is deciding whether to charge bin Hammam over possible financial management of Asian Football Confederation funds during the Qatari official's presidency. Garcia is also examining whether Caribbean voters were bribed during the FIFA presidential election last year.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport lifted bin Hammam's life ban last month, prompting FIFA to search for fresh evidence.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.