FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa has said that claims that he helped to identify footballers who were tortured are "nasty lies".
Sheikh Salman was a member of the ruling royal family in 2011 when several protesters died in Bahrain while calling for political reform, while others were arrested, detained and tortured.
Bahraini human rights groups have accused the 49-year-old of helping to identify those in the protests, but Sheikh Salman has denied the claims.
"I cannot deny something that I haven't done," he told BBC Sport.
"Such accusations are not just damaging, it's really hurting. Some people have agenda on their table. It's not just damaging me, it's damaging the people and the country.
"These are false, nasty lies that have been repeated again and again in the past and the present."
Sheikh Salman confirmed earlier this month that he will run for FIFA presidency in next year's election, which is due to take place on February 26.
Kristian Johnson
