Embattled Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam urged delegates not to boycott FIFA's congress here Tuesday after several officials refused to attend the event. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president bin Hammam, who is barred from attending the meeting following his suspension over corruptions claims, told AFP he had instructed delegates to attend Wednesday's meeting.
"I have told the Asian delegates not to boycott the congress," bin Hammam confirmed to AFP. Speculation had mounted that Asian officials would stage a walkout of the event in protest at FIFA's suspension of bin Hammam, similar to a boycott of a congress held in Los Angeles in 1999.