International Handball Federation president Hassan Moustafa hinted on Friday that he is a victim of racism in Europe after being investigated over corruption allegations.
German prosecutors have launched an investigation into the Egyptian over the awarding of television rights in 2007.
Swiss authorities searched the sport's head offices in Switzerland and Mostafa’s home earlier this month.
“I’m the only Arab who heads an international federation in all sports and that annoys many Europeans who particularly consider handball a European sport,” Moustafa said in an interview with Al-Ahram daily.
“Searching my house came following my approval, and I also wanted that ... the searching led to nothing.”
Authorities are looking into payments allegedly made to Mostafa by a sports marketing firm in 2007 after having been awarded the marketing of TV rights for 2006-09.
It also looked at the contract awarding process for the rights between 2009-2013.
“A French company was awarded the TV rights for four years starting in 2005. The problem started when we changed the bidding system in the international federation,” Moustafa said.
“The new system saw the offers presented in sealed envelopes before being unveiled by the general secretary in front of all the executive committee members to guarantee complete transparency.
“Consequently, we had a bid from a German company (sports marketing firm UFA) which was 9 million Swiss franc higher, from 2010 to 2013.
“The French company did not like that, and did not accept defeat. It was also enraged after I demanded that they pay the last instalment of its deal and a penalty for late payment. That’s why it did all that in retaliation,” Moustafa added.
Short link: