WORLD
AFC elects Sheikh Salman president, EXCO member
Baku, May 2 (AZERTAC). The Asian Football Confederation handed the reins of power to Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa on Thursday, electing the Bahraini as its new president and voting him on to FIFA`s all-powerful executive committee.
Sheikh Salman secured 33 of the 46 presidential votes available from AFC member associations in Malaysia, to beat Yousuf Al Serkal of the United Arab Emirates (six votes) and Thailand`s Worawi Makudi (seven votes) in a lop-sided election.
The Bahraini replaces disgraced Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam, who was banned for life by FIFA in 2011 amid allegations of trying to buy votes. The AFC had been in limbo ever since, with China`s Zhang Jilong`s interim leadership beset by numerous match-fixing and graft scandals among member associations.
Dressed in a sharp grey suit and black tie, Sheik Salman told the AFC Congress that the confederation had to reform and become more transparent.
"Today I`m proud and happy, proud and happy to see the Asia football family gathered together," he said. "Proud and happy to see our family united under one roof in the capital of Asian football.
"We need complete reforms, what we need is an AFC where decision makers are accountable," he added.
Praising the efforts of China`s Zhang, who stepped in to fill the void left by Bin Hammam, Sheikh Salman called on AFC members to take the initiative in reform.
"You need to be part of an open, fair transparent dialogue in the future. Our acting president, Zhang Jilong, has started this dialogue successfully, we can be grateful for a man to take the role at a challenging time.
"Clean up the past and turn the page for the future, restore transparency and integrity."
Following the election, former AFC president Bin Hammam published a cryptic Tweet in Arabic, using a phrase that is usually reserved for offering condolences.
