Former AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam
Former AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam
Former AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam
Former AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam

Payments were personal to help others, insists Mohamed bin Hammam


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Mohamed bin Hammam has admitted making personal payments to football officials -  but has insisted they were for people suffering from serious illnesses and to the family of a teenage player who died on the pitch.

Bin Hammam, the FIFA member who is under fresh investigation by Fifa's ethics committee despite having a lifetime ban overturned in court, has had his financial dealings while Asian Football Confederation president be the subject of a report by accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The Qatari has written to the leaders of several Asian countries claiming he is still being targeted for having challenged Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency and explaining the payments highlighted by PWC - which he claims were from his own funds to people who faced personal difficulties.

Bin Hammam says he also made personal payments to Zhang Jilong, the AFC president who ordered the PWC investigation.

He said in a letter: "Dear friends, one last point, Jilong was one of those who came to me for financial support and I helped him with a significant amount from my personal account.

"I will leave him to explain the circumstances of this to you if he wishes."

Bin Hammam has also vowed to clear his name after FIFA's ethics committee opened investigation proceedings against him.

He added: "My legal team has filed an immediate response to the actions of the AFC and Fifa in relation to my latest politically-motivated ban."

if you go

The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.

The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.