FIFA vice-president Issa Hayatou has threatened legal action against BBC Panorama over their claim he accepted bribe - insisting the money was given to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) towards their 40th anniversary celebrations.
The president of African football is now being investigated by the International Olympic Committee - of which he is also a member - following the allegations. Panorama said that according to a list of secret payments made by now defunct marketing company ISL, Hayatou's name appeared next to a cash payment of 100,000 French francs in 1995.
"This money was not for me it was for the 40th anniversary of CAF," said Hayatou. "What Panorama also did is that they are saying I have been bribed now rather than something that happened 16 years ago."
He added: "This was for the 40th anniversary of CAF. At that time ISL was the sponsor of CAF and they gave the money to CAF and not to me, and the executive committee of CAF accepted it and approved it."
Hayatou, whom England 2018 had high hopes of winning the support of in the FIFA executive committee's World Cup vote on Thursday, said he was now considering legal action against Panorama.
He added: "I have got an appointment with my lawyers, I will talk to them and I will take it from there."
The IOC said their ethics commission will look into the claims against Hayatou.
The IOC said in a statement: "The IOC has taken note of the allegations made by BBC Panorama and will ask the programme makers to pass on any evidence they may have to the appropriate authorities.
"The IOC has a zero tolerance against corruption and will refer the matter to the IOC ethics commission."
Source: PA
