Bin Hammam makes claims over Blatter

FIFA's corruption crisis has taken another turn after Sepp Blatter was accused by his opponent in the presidential election of knowing about the payments which led to bribery charges.

Mohamed Bin Hammam, who along with FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has been charged with paying bribes for votes, claims Blatter has himself been named in statements submitted to the ethics committee ahead of a hearing on Sunday. The 62-year-old has now demanded that Blatter be included in the investigation by the world governing body's ethics committee.

He said in a statement: "Mohamed Bin Hammam, member of the executive committee of FIFA, was surprised by (Wednesday's] accusations of bribery. He rejects these accusations and confirms that they are without substance.

"The accusations also contain statements according to which Mr Blatter, the incumbent FIFA president, was informed of, but did not oppose, payments allegedly made to members of the Caribbean Football Union. Mr Bin Hammam has therefore requested that the investigation by the ethics committee be extended to include Mr Blatter."

The statement claims the timing of the charges are a smear campaign aimed at forcing Bin Hammam to withdraw as a candidate for the FIFA presidency." Bin Hammam added: "I am not afraid to answer any questions the ethics committee may have for me. As long as the committee guarantees a fair process, I have nothing to fear."

Blatter had earlier expressed his sadness over the bribery allegations and branded claims that he was trying to smear his opponent as "ludicrous".