Dark days for Asian soccer and its leader

By Patrick Johnston

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - As suspended AFC head Mohamed Bin Hammam departs Zurich fighting bribery allegations, soccer in his continent of Asia struggles to combat match-fixing, violence and money issues that threaten to tarnish the Qatari's belief that the future is Asia.

Bin Hammam faces a battle to clear his name after a FIFA ethics committee in Switzerland suspended him from all soccer duties for alleged bribery during his defunct FIFA presidency campaign while his members, who have yet to come out in full support of their suspended leader, battle their own problems.

South Korea and Malaysia have been hit by match-fixing scandals with Singapore blighted by violence. Indonesia is flirting with a FIFA ban as they fail to elect a new chairman and clubs in Australia continue to struggle financially.

Amongst that, the 2022 Qatar World Cup organising committee have been compelled to release three statements in the last month denying accusations from different corners that they bribed voters in winning the right to host the world's biggest sporting event.

Bin Hammam unveiled a FIFA presidential campaign manifesto in March aimed at clearing up FIFA and making the organisation more transparent but his credentials, should he contend again in four years time, to implement that plan look blotted as the continent he has led for nine years faces a raft of issues.

"I think the Asian football enviroment is not that healthy," acting AFC chief Zhang Jilong said in an interview in English on China's state TV on Wednesday.

"We need, let's say, a revolution, we need reform to make more clear and more fair play environment in Asian football areas."

MATCH-FIXING