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Qatar's Mohamed Bin Hammam pulls out of Fifa race Qatar's Mohamed Bin Hammam pulls out of Fifa race
(40 minutes later)
Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar says he has pulled out of the race to head football's world governing body, Fifa.Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar says he has pulled out of the race to head football's world governing body, Fifa.
The move comes a day before the 62-year-old Asian Football Confederation chief was due to face an ethics committee hearing into bribery claims. The move came a day before the 62-year-old Asian Football Confederation chief was due to face an ethics committee hearing into bribery claims.
Mr Hammam said he did not want to see Fifa's name "dragged more in the mud". He said he did not want to see Fifa's name "dragged more in the mud".
Mr Hammam had been due to stand against incumbent Fifa chief Sepp Blatter, who is also facing the investigation. Both men deny corruption allegations. Mr Bin Hammam had been due to stand against incumbent Fifa chief Sepp Blatter, who is also facing the inquiry. Both deny corruption claims.
The election is scheduled for Wednesday. Mr Bin Hammam stressed his withdrawal must not "be tied to the investigation held by the Fifa ethics committee", pledging that he would appear before the panel to clear his name.
The election of the new Fifa president is scheduled for Wednesday.
'Great price''Great price'
In a statement, Mr Hammam said he "was and remains committed to change within Fifa" in a order to "further the cause of democracy" within the organisation. In a statement, Mr Bin Hammam said he "was and remains committed to change within Fifa" in a order to "further the cause of democracy" within the organisation.
But he added that "recent events have left me hurt and disappointed - on a professional and personal level".But he added that "recent events have left me hurt and disappointed - on a professional and personal level".
"It saddens me that standing up for the causes that I believed in has come at a great price - the degradation of Fifa's reputation. This is not what I had in mind for Fifa and this is unacceptable."It saddens me that standing up for the causes that I believed in has come at a great price - the degradation of Fifa's reputation. This is not what I had in mind for Fifa and this is unacceptable.
"I cannot allow the name that I loved to be dragged more and more in the mud because of competition between two individuals. The game itself and the people who love it around the world must come first.""I cannot allow the name that I loved to be dragged more and more in the mud because of competition between two individuals. The game itself and the people who love it around the world must come first."
But Mr Hammam stressed that his withdrawal must not "be tied to the investigation held by the Fifa Ethics Committee", pledging that he would appear before the panel to clear his name. The Fifa's ethics committee hearing is due to start in Zurich, Switzerland, later on Sunday.
Mr Bin Hammam and Fifa Vice President Jack Warner face allegations from executive committee member Chuck Blazer that they offered bribes at a meeting of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) on 10 and 11 May.
A file of evidence claims bundles of cash of up to $40,000 (£24,200) were handed over to members of the CFU at the meeting in Trinidad.
Both Mr Bin Hammam and Mr Warner deny the allegations.
In turn, Mr Bin Hammam has effectively claimed that Mr Blatter - who is bidding for a fourth term in office - failed to report the payment of alleged bribes, in itself a breach of Fifa's ethics code.
Mr Blatter, 75, denies any wrongdoing.
The latest twist in the bitter fight for Fifa presidency follows weeks of damaging headlines and allegations in the wake of the vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.