Former FIFA executive Mohamed Bin Hammam has called the decision to ban him for life “deeply flawed” but believes trying to clear his name may prove difficult in the face of “tactical games” from the governing body as he launched his formal appeal.

Mohamed bin Hammam issued a statement maintaining his innocence on the first day of FIFA’s ethics committee hearing into bribery allegations against him and insisted that justice will prevail.

Mohamed bin Hammam will fight for his future in football today when the FIFA ethics committee hearing into bribery allegations begins.

FIFA today faced calls to abandon next week’s presidential election after two of football’s most powerful figures were accused of handing over up to $40,000 (€28,000) in bribes to officials.