Bin Hammam completely denies FIFA charges

FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam “completely denied” wrongdoing yesterday after football’s governing body announced it was investigating him for corruption.

Bin Hammam said allegations against him were part of a politically-motivated ploy by FIFA president Sepp Blatter as the two powerbrokers prepared for a June 1 election.

“This has been a difficult and painful day for me today,” he said.

“But, if there is even the slightest justice in the world, these allegations will vanish in the wind.

“This move is little more than a tactic being used by those who have no confidence in their own ability to emerge successfully from the FIFA presidential election.

“Here I completely deny any allegations of wrongdoing either intentionally or unknowingly while I was in the Caribbean.”

The battle for the FIFA presidency had taken a new twist earlier yesterday after FIFA announced it was investigating Bin Hammam and three other officials including CONCACAF chief Jack Warner.

The four officials were ordered to appear before FIFA’s ethics committee in Zurich on Sunday.

FIFA said possible violations of the FIFA Code of Ethics had been brought to its attention of FIFA by US member Chuck Blazer.

“In particular, the report referred to a special meeting of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), apparently organised jointly by FIFA Vice-President Jack A. Warner and FIFA Executive Committee member Mohamed bin Hammam, which took place on 10 and 11, May 2011. This meeting was linked to the upcoming FIFA presidential election,” FIFA said in a statement.

“In view of the facts alleged in this report, which include bribery allegations, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, in compliance with art. 16 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, yesterday requested the FIFA Ethics Committee to open ethics proceedings.”