Mohamed bin Hammam will fight to clear his name of bribery allegations at a FIFA ethics committee hearing today.

The Asian Football Confederation president has been suspended from all football activity since May 29 along with Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, whose cases will also be heard.

Jack Warner, the former FIFA vice-president and president of CONCACAF, was the fourth person to be suspended but he is no longer being investigated following his resignation on June 20.

The allegations stem from a meeting for associations of the CFU organised by Bin Hammam and Warner during the Qatari’s campaign to oust Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

Several members of the CFU claim they were offered thousands of dollars in cash for “development projects” at the meeting, with Minguell and Sylvester alleged to have handed over the money.

CONCACAF general secretary and FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer, of the US, was informed of the allegations, which he reported to the ethics committee.

The timing of the revelations was particularly controversial, coming only a few days before the presidential election.

The investigation was widened to include Blatter after Bin Hammam claimed he knew about the alleged payments, but the president was cleared of any wrongdoing at the same hearing that saw Bin Hammam suspended.

The ethics committee have been investigating the matter since, and a secret report seen by the Press Association on June 22, stated there is “comprehensive, convincing and overwhelming” evidence Bin Hammam tried to bribe officials and that Warner was “an accessory to corruption”.

Meanwhile, a second report by Freeh Group International Europe – the private investigative agency owned by ex-FBI chief Louis Freeh – concluded that while there is “no direct evidence” linking Bin Hammam to the offer or payment of cash there is “compelling circumstantial evidence” that the 62-year-old Qatari was the source of the money.

Bin Hammam, who has always maintained the allegations were false and designed to scupper his presidential bid, published a statement on his website this week in which he criticised the release of information surrounding the case but maintained he is hoping for a fair hearing.

The ethics committee will announce their decision to-morrow, with Bin Hammam potentially facing a life ban from football if found guilty.

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