Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam vowed to clear his name Thursday after sensational corruption charges he has dismissed as a ploy by Sepp Blatter, his opponent in FIFA presidential polls. The Qatari defiantly refused to withdraw from next week's vote against Blatter and pressed on with his campaign despite being summoned to a FIFA ethics committee hearing in Zurich Sunday to answer the graft allegations.
"He's not withdrawing his candidature, despite any rumours and speculation. He's going there, he's going to present his case and he's confident he's going to be cleared," a spokesperson told AFP.
"Nothing has changed. As far as he's concerned, nothing has changed." The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president has said explosive claims that he tried to rig the FIFA poll - where he is attempting to deny Blatter a fourth term as the most powerful man in football - 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," he said in a statement Wednesday.