ZCZC
BSP-13
FBL-ASIA-AFC-VOTE-SALMAN
Asian football boss urges ‘fair play’ in presidential poll
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Asian Football Confederation
president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa on Wednesday called for “fair
play” in next year’s elections where he will seek a fresh, four-year term as
president.
The Bahraini royal said he had the support of nearly 90 percent of the
AFC’s 46 full members, but warned against “third-party interference” in the
vote next April.
Sheikh Salman first took the reins in 2013 when the Asian body was still
reeling from a corruption scandal which saw his predecessor, Mohamed bin
Hammam, banned from football for life.
“In Asia and particularly here at the AFC, we have built a positive
reputation and image in the last five years,” he told the AFC annual congress
in Kuala Lumpur.
“We do not need nor do we want any third-party interference or influence in
our elections. We need to be strong on this matter.”
The congress passed an amendment to an electoral rule which said candidates
must be backed by their home country and two other federations. Any three
nominations are now acceptable.
It also approved a proposal to formally recognise five regional
associations within the AFC.
At the AFC Congress in April, Sheikh Salman could face a challenge from
Saudi Arabia’s Adel Ezzat, head of a new regional bloc, the South West Asian
Football Federation.
However, the sheikh said he had letters of support from 40 of the
federations in the AFC, which has influence as the world’s second biggest
confederation behind Africa.
“All member associations must be free to exercise their rights for the good
of the game. And this, we must remember, is the Asian football family. Our
family must stick together,” he said.
“I can say is I won’t let you down,” added the sheikh.
His potential challenger, Ezzat, resigned as head of the Saudi football
federation last month, saying he wanted to focus on the AFC elections.
While Saudi Arabia has long been a marginal player in the game, the oil-
rich kingdom — currently involved in a diplomatic row with 2022 World Cup
hosts Qatar — is seen as being in the midst of a push for influence in
football.
Asian football has a chequered history after Qatar’s bin Hammam was accused
of bribery during his 2011 campaign to unseat the now disgraced Sepp Blatter
as president of world body FIFA.
After having a life ban annulled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, bin
Hammam was handed a second lifetime ban by FIFA in 2012 for conflict of
interest violations.
Sheikh Salman was elected in 2013 and completed the last two years of bin
Hammam’s term, before being re-elected unopposed to a full, four-year term in
2015.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1450 hrs