Husain Al-Musallam: Difference between revisions

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In May 2017, ”[[The Times]]” suggested that Hussain Al-Musallam was “co-conspirator #3” in a US Department of Justice indictment of Richard Lai, a former member of [[FIFA|FIFA’s]] Audit and Compliance Committee and head of the [[Guam Football Association]]. In his guilty plea,<ref>{{cite web |date=27 April 2017 |title=Fifa Audit And Compliance Committee Member Pleads Guilty To Corruption Charges {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/fifa-audit-and-compliance-committee-member-pleads-guilty-corruption-charges |website=www.justice.gov |language=en |access-date=24 October 2024 |archive-date=1 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201151154/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/fifa-audit-and-compliance-committee-member-pleads-guilty-corruption-charges |url-status=live }}</ref> Richard Lai admitted to accepting $750,000 in wire transfers from accounts controlled by “co-conspirator #3 or his assistants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-02 |title=FINA Vice President Husain Al-Musallam Connected With FIFA Corruption |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/fina-vice-president-husain-al-musallam-connected-with-fifa-corruption-case/ |access-date=2020-10-17 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US |archive-date=2020-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019111845/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/fina-vice-president-husain-al-musallam-connected-with-fifa-corruption-case/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |last=Reporter |first=Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports |title=Senior swimming executive implicated in Fifa bribery scandal |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/senior-swimming-executive-implicated-in-fifa-bribery-scandal-lhzkhptfb |access-date=2020-10-17 |language=en |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=2025-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250402064117/https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/senior-swimming-executive-implicated-in-fifa-bribery-scandal-lhzkhptfb |url-status=live }}</ref> The OCA, in a written statement to ”The Times”, denied the allegations and “asked the OCA ethics committee to carry out a full review.”<ref name=”:0″ />

In May 2017, ”[[The Times]]” suggested that Hussain Al-Musallam was “co-conspirator #3” in a US Department of Justice indictment of Richard Lai, a former member of [[FIFA|FIFA’s]] Audit and Compliance Committee and head of the [[Guam Football Association]]. In his guilty plea,<ref>{{cite web |date=27 April 2017 |title=Fifa Audit And Compliance Committee Member Pleads Guilty To Corruption Charges {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/fifa-audit-and-compliance-committee-member-pleads-guilty-corruption-charges |website=www.justice.gov |language=en |access-date=24 October 2024 |archive-date=1 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201151154/https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/fifa-audit-and-compliance-committee-member-pleads-guilty-corruption-charges |url-status=live }}</ref> Richard Lai admitted to accepting $750,000 in wire transfers from accounts controlled by “co-conspirator #3 or his assistants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-02 |title=FINA Vice President Husain Al-Musallam Connected With FIFA Corruption |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/fina-vice-president-husain-al-musallam-connected-with-fifa-corruption-case/ |access-date=2020-10-17 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US |archive-date=2020-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019111845/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/fina-vice-president-husain-al-musallam-connected-with-fifa-corruption-case/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |last=Reporter |first=Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports |title=Senior swimming executive implicated in Fifa bribery scandal |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/senior-swimming-executive-implicated-in-fifa-bribery-scandal-lhzkhptfb |access-date=2020-10-17 |language=en |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=2025-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250402064117/https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/senior-swimming-executive-implicated-in-fifa-bribery-scandal-lhzkhptfb |url-status=live }}</ref> The OCA, in a written statement to ”The Times”, denied the allegations and “asked the OCA ethics committee to carry out a full review.”<ref name=”:0″ />

In August 2023, Husein Al-Musallam was named in US court documents<ref>{{Cite web |title=EXHIBIT 3-A: BROIDY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC v. NICHOLAS D. MUZIN &#124; PDF &#124; Business|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/667953292/EXHIBIT-3-A-BROIDY-CAPITAL-MANAGEMENT-LLC-v-NICHOLAS-D-MUZIN|website=Scribd|access-date=2024-02-06|archive-date=2024-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206192013/https://www.scribd.com/document/667953292/EXHIBIT-3-A-BROIDY-CAPITAL-MANAGEMENT-LLC-v-NICHOLAS-D-MUZIN|url-status=live}}</ref> as having received over 7 million British Pounds in payments from the State of Qatar at his Qatar National Bank account in Singapore as bribes and for facilitation of further bribe payments to FIFA officials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosen|first=Armin|date=30 August 2023|title=Qatar’s World Cup FIFA Bribe Documents Exposed|url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/sports/articles/qatar-world-cup-fifa-bribe-documents-exposed-armin-rosen|work=Tablet Magazine|archive-date=7 February 2024|access-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207123702/https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/sports/articles/qatar-world-cup-fifa-bribe-documents-exposed-armin-rosen|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2023, Husein Al-Musallam was named in US court documents<ref>{{Cite web |title=EXHIBIT 3-A: BROIDY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC v. NICHOLAS D. MUZIN &#124; PDF &#124; Business|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/667953292/EXHIBIT-3-A-BROIDY-CAPITAL-MANAGEMENT-LLC-v-NICHOLAS-D-MUZIN|website=Scribd|access-date=2024-02-06|archive-date=2024-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206192013/https://www.scribd.com/document/667953292/EXHIBIT-3-A-BROIDY-CAPITAL-MANAGEMENT-LLC-v-NICHOLAS-D-MUZIN|url-status=live}}</ref> as having received over 7 million British Pounds in payments from the State of Qatar at his Qatar National Bank account in Singapore as bribes and for facilitation of further bribe payments to FIFA officials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosen|first=Armin|date=30 August 2023|title=Qatar’s World Cup FIFA Bribe Documents Exposed|url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/sports/articles/qatar-world-cup-fifa-bribe-documents-exposed-armin-rosen|work=Tablet Magazine|archive-date=7 February 2024|access-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207123702/https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/sports/articles/qatar-world-cup-fifa-bribe-documents-exposed-armin-rosen|url-status=live}}</ref>

Al-Musallam said he had been cleared by the Kuwait Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission of wrongdoing related to a contract with the Gulf State Games, claiming that the allegations are “baseless” and “politically motivated” and that the Ethics Committee had found “no violation of the rules” after reviewing all documentation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Overend |first=Riley |date=2024-02-09 |title=AQUA President Husain Al-Musallam Claims Ethics Investigation Related to OCA Elections |url=https://swimswam.com/aqua-president-husain-al-musallam-claims-innocence-in-wake-of-ethics-investigation/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925223130/https://swimswam.com/aqua-president-husain-al-musallam-claims-innocence-in-wake-of-ethics-investigation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Al-Musallam said he had been cleared by the Kuwait Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission of wrongdoing related to a contract with the Gulf State Games, claiming that the allegations are “baseless” and “politically motivated” and that the Ethics Committee had found “no violation of the rules” after reviewing all documentation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Overend |first=Riley |date=2024-02-09 |title=AQUA President Husain Al-Musallam Claims Ethics Investigation Related to OCA Elections |url=https://swimswam.com/aqua-president-husain-al-musallam-claims-innocence-in-wake-of-ethics-investigation/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925223130/https://swimswam.com/aqua-president-husain-al-musallam-claims-innocence-in-wake-of-ethics-investigation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kuwaiti sports administrator (born 1960)

Husain AHZ Al-Musallam (Arabic: حسين المسلم; born 19 May 1960) is a Kuwaiti sports administrator and former airline pilot. He currently serves as the Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Secretary General of the Kuwait Olympic Committee.[1][2][3][4][5][excessive citations] In addition to his roles within the Olympic movement, Al-Musallam is the President of World Aquatics.[6]

Early life and career

Musallam was born on 19 May 1960 in Kuwait. He joined the swimming club of Kazma Sports Club at the age of 8 and became a member of the national team at 13. Between 1974 and 1976, he competed in all Pan-Arab, Asian and World Swimming Championships.[7]

In 1978 he joined Kuwait Airways Corporation as a co-pilot and promoted to airline captain in 1988. He worked as a training and check captain since 1994.[7]

He joined the Olympic Council of Asia on 25 December 1982, and became Deputy Director General and Technical Director in December 1998. He joined the OCA Executive Board on 23 January 2003. He is serving as the Director General since September 2005.[8]

On 30 June 2019 he was elected as the Secretary General of Kuwait Olympic Committee.[2]

On December 3, 2023, the General Assembly of the Kuwait Olympic Committee announced the selection of a new board of Directors for the term 2023–2027. During the meeting, Husain Al Musallam was elected as the Secretary-General for a five-year tenure.[9]

On May 25, 2023, Husain was granted the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Vassil Levski National Sports Academy in Bulgaria.[10][11]

World Aquatics

In 2015 he was elected as First Vice President of International Swimming Federation (FINA).[12]

In June 2021, Al-Musallam was elected as President of FINA.[13]

In December 2022, FINA changed its name to World Aquatics and passed a resolution to increase the representation of women on the Bureau to at least 40%.[14]

In May 2023, plans were announced to relocate the World Aquatics headquarters from Lausanne to Budapest.[15]

In July 2023, Husain Al-Musallam was elected to a new eight-year term as the president of the World Aquatics organization.[6]

Controversy

Implication in FIFA bribery scandal

In May 2017, The Times suggested that Hussain Al-Musallam was “co-conspirator #3” in a US Department of Justice indictment of Richard Lai, a former member of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee and head of the Guam Football Association. In his guilty plea,[16] Richard Lai admitted to accepting $750,000 in wire transfers from accounts controlled by “co-conspirator #3 or his assistants.[17][18] The OCA, in a written statement to The Times, denied the allegations and “asked the OCA ethics committee to carry out a full review.”[18]

In August 2023, Husein Al-Musallam was named in US court documents[19] as having received over 7 million British Pounds in payments from the State of Qatar at his Qatar National Bank account in Singapore as bribes and for facilitation of further bribe payments to FIFA officials.[20][21]

Al-Musallam said he had been cleared by the Kuwait Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission of wrongdoing related to a contract with the Gulf State Games, claiming that the allegations are “baseless” and “politically motivated” and that the Ethics Committee had found “no violation of the rules” after reviewing all documentation.[22]

U.S. Department of Justice investigation

In September 2021, the Associated Press reported that Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and Hussain Al-Musallam have been targeted by the U.S. Department of Justice for suspected racketeering and bribery related to FIFA and international soccer politics. According to the AP, in 2017, the US embassy in Kuwait formally requested evidence from the country, including bank account information for the two officials, who have been identified as potential co-conspirators.[23] American prosecutors “told their Kuwaiti counterparts they wanted to establish if the suspects made other payments to [Richard] Lai, or if their accounts were used to wire possible bribe payments to other soccer officials.”[24]

IOC Ethics Investigation into Alleged Commission Request

In July 2017, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Ethics Commission launched an investigation into Husain Al-Musallam, in his capacity as the Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), following allegations reported by The Times, Der Spiegel, and SwimVortex. These reports accused Al-Musallam of attempting to secure a 10% commission from potential sponsorship contracts. The controversy stemmed from a recorded conversation,[25] released by journalist Jens Weinreich, which documented a meeting between Al-Musallam and a Chinese marketing agent. During this meeting, Al-Musallam is allegedly heard proposing that he and OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah receive 10% of any OCA sponsorship deals for the Asian Games as a ‘commission’.[26][27]

References

  1. ^ Bridge, Sam (30 August 2018). “Olympic Council of Asia chief hopes Kuwait ban over by 2020”. ArabianBusiness.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  2. ^ a b “Kuwait Olympic Committee Election Results”. aroundtherings.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  3. ^ Herald, The Korea (2019-02-15). “OCA director-general receives honorary degree from Kookmin University”. www.koreaherald.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  4. ^ “Administration – Olympic Council of Asia”. www.ocasia.org. Archived from the original on 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  5. ^ “Swimming delegates re-elect top two officials”. ESPN.com. 2017-07-22. Archived from the original on 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  6. ^ a b Keith, Braden (25 July 2023). “Husain Al-Musallam Elected to New 8-Year Term Leading World Aquatics”. SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b “Head of world swimming body to visit Tanzania”. The Citizen. February 28, 2022.
  8. ^ “HUSAIN AL MUSALLAM – FINA Presidential Manifesto” (PDF). bestswimming.swimchannel.net. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  9. ^ “KUNA : Kuwait Olympic Committee elects new board of directors – Sports – 04/12/2023”. www.kuna.net.kw. Archived from the original on 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  10. ^ “Captain Husain Al Musallam honored with doctorate degree in Bulgaria”. Bru Times News. Archived from the original on 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  11. ^ “OCA » Captain Husain receives honorary doctorate degree in Bulgaria”. oca.asia. Archived from the original on 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  12. ^ “Executive”. World Aquatics. Retrieved 10 November 2025. Captain Al Musallam has been First Vice President of World Aquatics since 2015 and served as its President since 2021.
  13. ^ “Kuwait’s Al-Musallam elected president of world body FINA”. Reuters. Retrieved 10 November 2025. June 5 (Reuters) – Kuwaiti Husain Al-Musallam was elected president of FINA at a general congress in Doha on Saturday, the aquatics world governing body said in a statement.
  14. ^ “FINA renamed World Aquatics”. NBC Sports. 2022-12-12. Archived from the original on 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  15. ^ “World Aquatics set to move to Budapest after agreement with Hungarian Government”. www.insidethegames.biz. 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  16. ^ “Fifa Audit And Compliance Committee Member Pleads Guilty To Corruption Charges | United States Department of Justice”. www.justice.gov. 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  17. ^ “FINA Vice President Husain Al-Musallam Connected With FIFA Corruption”. Swimming World News. 2017-05-02. Archived from the original on 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  18. ^ a b Reporter, Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports. “Senior swimming executive implicated in Fifa bribery scandal”. The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 2025-04-02. Retrieved 2020-10-17.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ “EXHIBIT 3-A: BROIDY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC v. NICHOLAS D. MUZIN | PDF | Business”. Scribd. Archived from the original on 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  20. ^ Panja, Tariq (2017-11-03). “Powerful Sheikh Linked to Sports Corruption Case Resurfaces in Prague (Published 2017)”. The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  21. ^ Rosen, Armin (30 August 2023). “Qatar’s World Cup FIFA Bribe Documents Exposed”. Tablet Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  22. ^ Overend, Riley (2024-02-09). “AQUA President Husain Al-Musallam Claims Ethics Investigation Related to OCA Elections”. SwimSwam. Archived from the original on 2024-09-25. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  23. ^ Haroun, Azmi. “The DOJ is investigating two senior Kuwaiti Olympic officials for bribery and racketeering related to FIFA probe”. Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  24. ^ “Documents show US investigation of 2 Kuwaitis in FIFA case”. AP News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  25. ^ Recorded conversation over 10% commission (broadcast). Archived from the original on 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  26. ^ “IOC Ethics Board investigating Al Musallam corruption claims”. Sports Integrity Initiative. 2017-07-20. Archived from the original on 2019-08-24. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  27. ^ Lord, Craig; Ziegler, Martyn (2024-02-06). “Top swimming official ‘asked for 10% cut of sponsor deals’“. The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2024-02-06.

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