LAUSANNE: Mohamed Bin Hammam has been given a date by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for the substantive hearing of his appeal against the appointment by the Asian confederation of China’s Zhang Jilong as interim president.

Qatari Bin Hammam was banned for life by world federation FIFA last July over allegations of bribery concerning a campaign meeting organised on his behalf by the Caribbean Football Union when he seeking to oust Sepp Blatter as FIFA president. Bin Hammam subsequently withdrew his candidacy before the election.

His subsequent ban cost him the presidency of the Asian confederation which he had held since 2002. Bin Hammam gave notice of appeal to FIFA and, because ot it, believes the AFC had no right to appoint Jilong as interim president. However his approach to the CAS for an injunction to stop the AFC action was rejected pending a full hearing. This will now take place on January 23.

Bin Hammam has also appealed to CAS against his lifetime ban from all football while will be heard later, at  a date yet to be notified. Bin Hammam hopes for a hearing and then ruling before May which is when the next AFC Congress is held. The AFC executive’s current intention is to hold a presidential election then and already various rival candidates have started to take soundings for support.