Following his summons to appear before the FIFA Ethics Committee in Zurich on 29 May, Asian Football Confederation President, Mr Mohamed bin Hammam, released the following 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.
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.
I will have no further comment to make on this matter until after I appear before the FIFA Ethics Committee and I would like to apologise to all members of the media in advance for not being able to discuss this issue with them until the conclusion the hearing.
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.
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.
I will have no further comment to make on this matter until after I appear before the FIFA Ethics Committee and I would like to apologise to all members of the media in advance for not being able to discuss this issue with them until the conclusion the hearing.