Former Fifa  presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam has been banned from football for life after being found guilty of attempted bribery.

The governing body’s ethics committee made the decision yesterday after a two-day hearing.

Bin Hammam was accused of attempting to buy votes ahead of last month’s Fifa presidential election.

The 62-year-old Qatari withdrew from the election, leaving Sepp Blatter to be re-elected unopposed. Hours before the verdict was given, Hammam wrote in a blog that he is likely to be found guilty of bribery allegations.

“It seems likely that Fifa has already made its decision weeks ago. None of us should be surprised if a guilty verdict is returned.”