Asian Football Confederation chief unopposed for re-election, Saudi Arabia boss running for Fifa seat
- Sheik Salman of Bahrain will lead region’s governing body for final term until 2027
- Yasser Almisehal, the Saudi football federation president, is aiming to give his country its first member on the decision-making council since 2016
Fifa vice-president Sheik Salman of Bahrain will be unopposed for re-election to lead the Asian Football Confederation, while the head of the Saudi Arabian federation is a candidate to join him on the world governing body’s ruling committee.
The 47-nation AFC published its candidate list on Tuesday for an election meeting to be held in February in Manama, Bahrain. Seven countries put up candidates – all men – for five Fifa Council seats and five countries are competing for one seat protected for women.
Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has led the Asian football body since 2013 and under current rules would complete his term limit with a final four-year mandate through 2027. As one of the game’s six continental presidents, he is entitled to be paid US$300,000 by Fifa as a vice-president.
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Fifa pays a $250,000 net sum annually plus expenses to each ordinary member of its 37-strong council which typically meets four times each year.
Yasser Almisehal, the Saudi football federation president, is aiming to give his country its first member on the decision-making council since Gianni Infantino was elected Fifa president in 2016, when Sheik Salman placed second.
Saudi Arabia has worked to build close ties to Infantino and prepare to anchor a bid to host the 2030 World Cup, though its candidate four years ago for a Fifa seat failed to get elected.
Qatar’s federation president, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Thani, is also a first-time candidate at Fifa, and could effectively replace his vice-president Saoud Al Mohannadi who is not seeking re-election to represent the 2022 World Cup host.
Fifa seats currently held by departing officials from India and Fiji will be vacant in three months. Incumbents Du Zhaocai of China, Japan’s Kohzo Tashima and Mariano Araneta of Philippines are candidates again.
The Fifa Council seat saved for an Asian woman is being defended by Mahfuza Akhter of Bangladesh in a contest with candidates from the football bodies of Laos, North Korea, Palestine and Taiwan.
Akhter won her seat four years ago in an election race that was disputed by a rival from the Maldives and led to an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The court ruled there was “improper influence” in the contest and discrimination by the AFC, but did not demand a re-run vote or a change in election rules.
All candidates for a council seat must pass an eligibility test by a Fifa-appointed vetting panel.
