Afghan football chief accused of seeking $10,000 bribe for national team place

The president of the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), Mohammad Yousef Kargar, has been accused of demanding a $10,000 bribe to secure a spot for a player on the national team. Leaked recordings show Kargar discussing the transfer of the payment with the brother of Nesar Ahmad Mohmand, who was being considered for a spot in the team's training camp in Thailand. Kargar has denied the allegations, claiming the recordings were "nothing but conspiracies and fabrications." The player in question, Mehman, plays in the second tier of Australian football and was spotted during an annual tournament in Melbourne organized by the Afghan diaspora. Kargar invited Mehman to join the national team's training camp in March and sent an invitation letter to his club, Stockton Sharks. The allegations have been aired by Afghanistan International TV, a London-based media outlet that has been banned by the Taliban. The incident highlights concerns about corruption and transparency within the Afghan football federation.