Shaikh Salman keeps AFC presidency for third term
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain’s Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa was yesterday re-elected unopposed as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president at the 33rd AFC Congress, held at the Gulf Convention Centre.
Among those present at the high-profile gathering were Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority president and Bahrain Olympic Committee chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa; FIFA president Gianni Infantino; and many other high-ranking officials.
The Bahrain Football Association delegation at the meeting was headed by president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. Shaikh Salman was the sole candidate for the AFC presidency and he retained his position for a third four-year term, until 2027.
He is also a FIFA Senior Vice-President. Shaikh Salman, who took over as the 10th AFC President in 2013, said following his re-election: “I want to thank you all again for your overwhelming support for my candidacy to lead Asian football for another four years.
“I embrace my duty with great pride and honour. So many milestones have been achieved and yet there remains so much more for us to accomplish together. And most importantly, our achievement underlines the stability and unity of the strong foundations that we have built together in the last decade.
“As we look ahead, let me assure you that the AFC will continue to place the development of our Member Associations and Regional Associations at the heart of all our efforts.” Also at yesterday’s AFC Congress, it was confirmed the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) will be the host association for the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
The landmark decision marks the first time Asia’s crown jewel will be staged in Saudi. Shaikh Salman commented: “Let me congratulate the SAFF for being selected as the hosts for the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
“This will be the first time the tournament will be staged in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we look forward to working closely with the SAFF and the Saudi Arabian Government to deliver a memorable AFC Asian Cup for our fans and players in 2027.”
Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said: “It is an honour to have been chosen as hosts for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and this is a historic and exciting moment for football in Saudi Arabia.
“We believe the best days of Asian football are yet to come and we see this tournament as an opportunity to showcase all that’s great about the game here. Our experience in hosting major sporting and entertainment events means that we are ready to deliver and ready to warmly welcome fans from across Asia and around the world.”
Also confirmed yesterday were the members of a newlook AFC Executive Committee for the term 2023 to 2027, as well as the six AFC’s representatives to the FIFA Council. Together with Shaikh Salman, the AFC have seven members on the FIFA Council.
Shaikh Salman said: “Congratulations to all those who have been successfully elected to the AFC Executive Committee and the FIFA Council. “We know that the hard work begins immediately, and I look forward to serving with you, but we have great foundations to build on. I am confident that we can take Asian football to even greater heights.”
Yesterday’s AFC Congress was the first time Asian football’s top executives gathered together physically since the AFC Extraordinary Congress in Paris in June 2019.
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