AFC, Asian football’s governing body, scraps term limits at Bangkok summit, allowing leaders to stay at helm indefinitely
- Change paves the way for Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa to seek re-election in 2027
- Bahraini royal says the changes are a ‘clear signal of our intent to ensure that we remain a model confederation’
Asia’s governing body for football has voted to scrap term limits for its president and top leaders, allowing them to rule indefinitely – scrapping reforms brought in after the scandals that rocked Fifa a decade ago.
At its congress in Bangkok on Thursday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decided to abolish rules limiting the president and executive committee members to a maximum of three four-year terms in office.
The change paves the way for Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, in his third term as AFC president, to seek re-election in 2027 when he had been due to step down.
In a statement, the Bahraini royal said the changes were a “clear signal of our intent to ensure that we remain a model confederation that continues to uphold the highest ethical standards and best governance practices for the future generations of our great game”.
Salman took the reins in 2013 with the AFC in disarray after his predecessor, Qatari businessman Mohamed bin Hammam, was banned from football for life following bribery claims and conflict-of-interest violations.
The huge corruption scandal that engulfed Fifa in 2015 led to governance changes such as term limits being introduced by a number of regional confederations.