LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) – Former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam’s appeal against a life ban from football for allegedly bribing voters during his challenge to Sepp Blatter opens Wednesday at sport’s highest court.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has scheduled two full days to examine evidence surrounding Bin Hammam’s campaign trip to Trinidad last May.

FIFA’s judicial bodies expelled the Asian Football Confederation president from world football, using whistleblower testimony from Caribbean officials who said they were offered envelopes stuffed with $40,000 in cash.

Bin Hammam is not expected to attend the court sessions, despite having praised CAS as a place “where I will be equal to my rival.”

The CAS panel is aiming to give a verdict this month.

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