Bin Hammam denies wrongdoing in FIFA ethics case

* Bin Hammam denies wrongdoing on "painful" day

* Qatari still expects to stand for FIFA presidency

* Allegations will "vanish in the wind", says challenger (adds details)

FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam denied any wrongdoing in an alleged bribery case on Wednesday, suggesting the investigation was "little more than a tactic" from his election rival Sepp Blatter.

FIFA rocked the election campaign on Wednesday when it said it had begun ethical proceedings against Bin Hammam, the Qatari head of the Asian Football Confederation, along with CONCACAF president Jack Warner and two other officials.

Bin Hammam, the only challenger to incumbent Blatter in the June 1 vote, responded by dismissing the allegations.

"This has been a difficult and painful day for me today," he said in a statement. "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."

FIFA said it had received a report from Chuck Blazer, another executive committee member, which included "bribery allegations".

The report referred to a Caribbean Football Union meeting which was attended by Warner and Bin Hammam on May 10/11 and was linked to the election campaign.

Bin Hammam said in the statement: "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."

reuters