AFC vacancy attracts two candidates

12 February 2012 08:06

Two highly credentialed football figures are vying for the role of Asian Football Confederation supremo.

Bahrain Football Association president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and acting AFC head Zhang Jilong both want the job.

Jilong is acting in the role following Mohamed bin Hammam’s departure after he was handed a lifetime ban from football-related activities for trying to buy votes in the lead-up to last year’s FIFA Presidential race.

Bin Hammam has appealed to the Court for Arbitration of Sport (CAS) to reverse the decision but a date hasn’t been set for the hearing.

The AFC must decide on a new leader on a full-time basis by the end of May and Al Khalifa and Jilong appear set to run. Al Khalifa told El Dawry El Kas Channel: “I have great confidence in getting great support from many parties, I received during launching the electoral battle with Mohamed Bin Hammam.”

“We have received promises of support by many Asian federations to give me her voice in the election, and I have to speak with Mohamed Bin Hammam, where he stressed his support for me and his blessing.”

Al Khalifa would not be drawn on discussing a potential rivalry with potential West Asian candidate Yousef Al Serkal, from the UAE.

Meanwhile, Jilong was quoted in the South China Morning Post as saying: “I am interested in becoming president permanently on the condition that I am recognised by all my friends and brothers on the executive committee, as well as the other 46 members’ association.”

“We need to be one family, as brothers, for we are on one boat sailing towards the future. If I become president permanently, I wish to work for the solidarity and development of Asian football.”

Article source: http://www.soccerway.com/news/2012/February/12/afc-vacancy-attracts-two-candidates