An independent investigation could open into the bribery claims surrounding Guam's Richard Lai ©Getty Images

An independent investigation into the bribery claims surrounding Guam's Richard Lai could be launched by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) following a recommendation from the governing body's new head of integrity.

Mohammad Ali Al Kamali has written to the organisation calling for them to look into the allegations against Lai, who has been provisionally suspended from his football roles.

The 55-year-old, a former member of FIFA's Audit and Compliance Committee, pleaded guilty to two charges of wire fraud conspiracy in front of US District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn last month.

The indictment from the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) alleged Lai received nearly $1 million (£773,000/€915,000) in bribes, with the case leading to the resignation of influential powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah.

Sheikh Ahmad, the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees and the Olympic Council of Asia, stepped down from his position on the FIFA Council and did not seek re-election after he was seemingly identified as "co-conspirator number two" by the DoJ.

The Kuwaiti, who also resigned from his role on the AFC Executive Committee, strongly denies wrongdoing.

International Swimming Federation (FINA) first vice-president Husain Al-Musallam, Sheikh Ahmad's right-hand man, was also allegedly implicated as "co-conspirator number three".

He also denies wrongdoing.

Sheikh Ahmad resigned from all of his footballing roles after he was allegedly implicated in the case involving Richard Lai ©Getty Images
Sheikh Ahmad resigned from all of his footballing roles after he was allegedly implicated in the case involving Richard Lai ©Getty Images

"The allegations contained in Richard Lai's indictment are, if substantiated, extremely serious," Kamali, elected at the AFC's Congress in Bahrain last week, said. 

"The AFC, which has placed good governance and integrity at the centre of its vision and mission, is duty bound to investigate."

American citizen Lai admitted being paid $100,000 (£77,000/€91,000) by an AFC official who was then running for the FIFA Presidency against disgraced Sepp Blatter in 2011.

The money was allegedly used in exchange for Lai's vote and support.

It was also revealed that Lai received a further $850,000 (£657,000/€777,000) between 2009 and 2014 from various officials in the Asian region to help them further their influence within the AFC and FIFA.

The news cast a shadow over the FIFA Congress and the AFC's crucial Council elections.

As a result of Sheikh Ahmad's withdrawal, China's Zhang Jian, South Korea's Mong Gyu Chung and Mariano V Araneta of The Philippines were all elected onto FIFA's ruling body as the AFC's three representatives. 

Bangladesh's Mahfuza Akhter Kiron beat Australian Moya Dodd by 27 votes to 17 to secure the AFC's spot reserved for a woman on the Council.