Blatter: I've been 'set up'.

Blatter is up for re-election as president on 28 May

Put your questions to Fifa candidate Issa Hayatou

Fifa president Sepp Blatter rejected accusations of corruption and claimed he was the victim of a "set up" ahead of his bid to be re-elected as the head of world football's governing body.

Speaking on Tuesday, Fifa's president was shaking as he rejected any impropriety in payments made to footballing officials.

All this is organised, it's a set-up, a well planned set-up

Sepp Blatter

And Blatter, who is up for re-election at Fifa's congress on 28 May, told journalists he would be presenting a written rebuttal to accusations made by general-secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen.

"I reject all the accusations that I have hidden files, and the accusation of criminal corruption is absurd," Blatter said.

"All this is organised, it's a set-up, a well planned set-up.

"They know that if I am not demolished before the election I will be elected, behind all this is also the powerbase of Uefa management and presidency," the Swiss claimed.

Blatter faces Cameroon's Issa Hayatou, a current vice-president, for the presidency.

Fifa sues Blatter

Hayatou hits out at Blatter

Hayatou is one of five Fifa vice-presidents who are bringing action against Blatter after Zen-Ruffinen's allegations came out.

Blatter declined to comment any further, saying he would tackle other issues of mismanagement in his written response to Fifa's executive committee.

The English Football Association has already pledged to give its backing to Hayatou.

The FA has been involved in talks with other national governing bodies but came to its conclusion despite backing Blatter four years ago ahead of Uefa chief Lennart Johansson.

An FA statement on its official website said: "The board felt unable to back the current president, Sepp Blatter.

"The FA wanted to place on record its high regard and admiration for the general secretary of Fifa, Michel Zen-Ruffinen.

"In increasingly difficult circumstances, he has continued to seek to fulfil his responsibilities.

"In that task, he deserves to receive the full support of the worldwide football community."