Bin Hammam audit implicates ex-PFF chief

AN AUDITING firm looking into the expenses of ex-Asian Football Confederation chief Mohammad Bin Hammam has named a Filipino football official as one of those who received huge payoffs from the controversial Qatari.

The report by international accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers said former Philippine Football Federation president Jose Mari Martinez received $60,000 from Bin Hammam, who is being investigated for allegedly using AFC funds for personal use during his time in charge.

The audit, dated July 13, was reported by the Associated Press. A copy of the report was obtained by the AP; its contents were confirmed by two people with direct knowledge of the report but spoke on condition of anonymity because it hasn’t been made public.

Martinez, ousted in November 2010 following a vote of no-confidence during the PFF Congress, aside from allegedly getting $60,000, was also said to have received $11,226 for his hospital bills.

Hammam visited the Philippines twice during Martinez’s time and even pledged P10 million to the PFF during a February 2009 congress when he survived an ouster move.

Reacting to the report, current PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, who replaced Martinez, said the federation will determine if the funds given to the former president were deposited to the PFF account for football use.

“We have to know if it was really used for football or just a personal deal between Hammam and Martinez,” said Araneta.

Martinez’s term that started in 2007 was hounded by allegations of fund misuse and mismanagement. The PFF Congress unanimously booted him out of power and made Araneta president.

The Inquirer could not reach Martinez for comment at press time. With a report from AP