LONDON - FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam denied any wrongdoing on Wednesday after world soccer's governing body summoned him to appear before an ethics hearing over a report into possible bribery.

FIFA 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.

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"This has been a difficult and painful day for me today," Bin Hammam, who is running against incumbent Sepp Blatter in the June 1 vote, 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."