Fifa to investigate Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner

Bin Hammam is standing against Sepp Blatter for the Fifa presidency (GETTY IMAGES)

Mohamed Bin Hammam came out fighting today after being charged by FIFA with offering bribes for votes.

The Qatari claimed the charge is a tactic by Sepp Blatter - his opponent in next week's FIFA presidential election.

Bin Hammam and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who has also been charged, will face FIFA's ethics committee on Sunday where they will face long bans if the allegations - made by fellow executive committee member Chuck Blazer - are proved.

Bin Hammam said in a statement: "This has been a difficult and painful day for me today. 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."

Blazer, an American who is the general secretary of the CONCACAF federation of which Warner is president, has alleged that violations of FIFA's code of ethics occurred during a meeting organised by Bin Hammam and Warner for Caribbean Football Union (CFU) associations in the Bahamas two weeks ago.

Two CFU officials, Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, have also been charged.

Bin Hammam added: "I remain deeply indebted to Mr Warner for his sense of fair play because without his support and understanding I would not have been able to meet with several important member associations of FIFA to discuss my election manifesto.

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

"I will speak to Mr Warner on this subject and offer him my full support in ensuring we are discharged honourably by the FIFA Ethics Committee, a body which I hold in the highest esteem.

"I am confident that there is no charge to answer and that I will be free to stand in the FIFA presidential election on June 1 as originally planned."