AFC ‘working with Fifa’ on case of Bahraini refugee footballer held in Thailand as ex-Hong Kong player demands his release
- Hakeem al-Araibi once criticised AFC president and Bahrain royal family member Sheikh Salman, who is now being ask to help in his release
- Ex-Australia captain Craig Foster, who once played in Hong Kong, is demanding action by AFC
The Asian Football Confederation has broken its silence on the plight of Australia-based Bahrain footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, who is being held in Thailand awaiting extradition to a country where he fears torture and persecution.
Al-Araibi publicly criticised AFC President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa – also a member of the Bahrain royal family – in 2016.
Now, his supporters – led by former Hong Kong-based player Craig Foster – are relying on the man Al-Araibi accused of being part of a crackdown on athletes during the Arab spring to give him his freedom.
World governing body Fifa called for Al-Araibi’s release on December 7 and it appears that the AFC is working behind the scenes on the case.
When asked by the South China Morning Post if it would respond to a letter Foster wrote to Sheikh Salman, the AFC said in a short statement: “We are working with Fifa and FAT [Football Association of Thailand] on this issue.” The confederation gave no further details.
Al-Araibi, 25, fled Bahrain in 2014 and sought asylum in Australia, where he lives and plays for Pascoe Vale Football Club. He is accused by Bahrain of vandalism and was arrested by Thai authorities based on a red notice by Interpol on November 27 when he travelled there on a holiday. He denies the charge.