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Qatar’s Hassan Al Thawadi (right), who is contesting the FIFA Executive Committee post representing the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), speaking to journalists at Mandarin Hotel in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia yesterday. Elections for the FIFA Executive Committee seat and for the AFC president’s post will be held tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Qatar football chief yesterday said Hassan Al Thawadi was ‘suitably placed’ to win the AFC vote for a seat on the FIFA’s all-powerful Executive Committee but quickly added that ‘a lot of work needed to be done’ ahead of the election set to take place tomorrow.
Al Thawadi, the chief architect of Qatar’s successful 2022 FIFA World Cup bid, is in direct competition against Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifah, whom he described as a ‘dear friend’ last week.
“Our candidate, thankfully, is suitably placed but you can’t predict anything in such elections,” Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani told media people at Mandarin Hotel in the heart of the Malaysian capital.
“We need to work more (to garner support from Asian voters) in the coming 24 hours,” the Qatar Football Association (QFA) chief added after a series of closed-door meetings with decision-makers in Asian football.
“Right now we feel he has the support that he requires. However, things will become clearer as we approach the voting day (Thursday),” he said while keeping his cards close to his chest.
The QFA chief said he believed Al Thawadi, 34, was ahead of his rival.
“Al Thawadi is mentally ready to take on the responsibilities of becoming a member of the FIFA Executive Committee and raise the profile of Asian football around the world,” Sheikh Hamad said.
Sheikh Hamad added: “God forbid if we lose (the election race), then we still execute our plans to develop Asian football in the best manner possible,” he said without elaborating.
The QFA chief denied media speculation that Al Thawadi was pushed for FIFA ExCo role to ‘protect Qatar’s World Cup’.
“We have every bit of confidence in Al Thawadi and his leadership skills. He is young, energetic and dynamic in the way he handles his various roles,” Sheikh Hamad said.
“He is the new face of football in Asia and the Middle East,” he added.
“We feel he is the right candidate to represent Asia at FIFA Executive Committee. The fact that he played such a crucial role in Qatar making an impressive bid for the (2022) World Cup only raises his chances of winning,” he added.
When asked about the presence of Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) chief who is backing the Bahraini in the AFC Presidency race, Sheikh Hamad said: “I don’t want to comment on it. What I can say is any organisation not directly related to football should have no interference of this kind.”
Al Thawadi’s rival in the FIFA Executive Committee race, Sheikh Salman is also fighting to land the AFC Presidency in a separate vote the same day.
Sheikh Salman’s closest rival, UAE football head Yousef Al Serkal, is not happy and believes the OCA is interfering in an election that has opened fights within west Asian football.
Al Serkal, who is also running against Thailand’s Worawi Makudi and Saudi Hafez Ibrahim Al Medlej, lashed out at the OCA and accused it of interfering in the election.
In a Kuwait FA statement released a couple of weeks ago, OCA chief, also Kuwait Football Association honorary life president, said: “I believe that he (Sheikh Salman) has the necessary leadership skills and vision to lead the AFC into a future of growth and prosperity. As president (of the Kuwait FA) from 1991 to 2003 my focus has always been based on the fair and transparent improvement of our game both on and off the field of play.”
Al Serkal told reporters in Dubai earlier this month: “If it was only (OCA chief) Sheikh Ahmad himself doing that on a personal level it would be OK. Anybody has the right to support one candidate or another, but since it has been done in an official way that’s direct interference.”
The 47-member Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will decide tomorrow who will lead Asia in the most populous continent and on the FIFA Executive Committee.
Sheikh Hamad remains upbeat on Al Thawadi winning his FIFA Executive Committee battle.
“He is a charismatic young man, fluent in four languages and has a distinguished career in business and commercial fields as a talented lawyer,” Sheikh Hamad said.
“Al Thawadi contributed significantly to Qatar’s successful 2022 FIFA World Cup bid,” Sheikh Hamad said of the Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee.
“I strongly believe Hassan Al Thawadi is the ideal candidate to represent Asia on FIFA’s Executive Committee,” QFA president said.
The Peninsula
FACTBOX-AFC Presidential Candidates
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
Factbox on Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who is standing in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s presidential elections in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.
Name: Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
Born: 1965
Country: Bahrain
Roles: Asian Football Confederation disciplinary committee chairman (2003-2009), FIFA disciplinary committee deputy chairman (2003-2009), FIFA 2014 World Cup committee member, Bahrain Football Association president (since 2002), Bahrain Football Association vice president (1998-2002), Bahrain Olympic Committee vice president (since 2009), General secretary Supreme Council for Youth & Sports (since 2010)
Manifesto pledges: Wants to reunite the Asian Football Community, Safeguard the universality of the Laws of the Game, Re-establish the relationship between FIFA and the AFC, Ensure full financial transparency, Guarantee equality in the fair distribution of AFC commercial revenues, Improve the level of all AFC competitions, Introduce technology at AFC competitions, Reinforce the financial support available for both refereeing and coaching courses, Ensure women’s football receives the support it deserves, Embrace the social responsibility the AFC has towards all members
Support: Backed by the powerful Olympic Council of Asia chief Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Salman is thought to be the favourite of the four candidates.
Positives: Has prioritised tackling matchfixing and talked about prison sentences for those caught., Also wants greater transparancy from the AFC but has stopped short of revealing specific ideas on how to achieve this.
Criticism: Has repeatedly faced questions about his role in quelling a bloody uprising in Bahrain with human rights groups saying players were tortured and demanding that FIFA withdraw him from the elections.
Yousef Al Serkal
Factbox on Yousuf Al Serkal, who is standing in the AFC presidential elections.
Name: Yousuf Al Serkal
Born: 1958
Country: United Arab Emirates
Roles: UAE Football Association president (since May 2012), UAE Football Association general secretary (1990-1995), UAE Olympic Committee deputy chairman (since 2009), Asian Football Confederation vice-president (since 2007), Asian Football Confederation executive committee member (1994-2002), Asian Football Confederation competitions committee chairman (since 2011), Asian Football Confederation referees committee chairman (2007-2011), Asian Football Confederation legal committee deputy chairman (1994-1998), Member of organising committee for Olympic Games - football (London 2012), Member of inspection committee for FIFA World Cup - Germany 2006
Manifesto pledges: Reunite Asian football, Improve governance, Balance between professional and amateur football, Decentralisation of activities, Balance of revenue distribution, Diversity of Asia to be represented at AFC house
Support: He is confident he will win and said he has received enough confirmations during his campaign to make him feel comfortable.
Positives: Has said he will declare all expenses accrued should he win the vote, the biggest transparancy pledge of the four candidates. Has experience of over 20 years as a football administrator and has avoided scandal.
Criticism: Has attempted to play down his close frienship with former AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam, who was banned for life from football by world governing body FIFA for corruption.
Worawi Makudi
Factbox on Worawi Makudi, who is standing for the AFC elections.
Name: Worawi Makudi
Born: 1951
Country: Thailand
Roles: Thailand Football Association secretary general (1996-2007), Thailand Football Association President (since 2007), Asian Football Confederation executive committee member (since 1997), FIFA Executive member (since 1997), ASEAN Football Federation council member
Manifesto pledges: To increase the number of AFC representatives in the FIFA executive committee., To restructure the distribution of revenue to member associations., To invest additionally in grassroots development programmes for both male and female players., Wants to establish an Asian Football College offering degrees in relevant subjects and courses for football related programmes., Wants to restructure the AFC Champions League and allow increased participation for member associations clubs.
Support: Says he has the full backing of the 11 members in the Southeast Asian ASEAN region.
Positives: An experienced campaigner who has held senior positions for long periods.
Could be seen as a compromise candidate as not a member of the rival East and West Asian associations.
Criticism: His credibility as a reformer has been questioned as the Thai was a close ally of former AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam, who was banned for life from football by world governing body FIFA for corruption. Has never been too far away from controversy but has successfully defended himself against numerous corruption charges. He was criticised for his poor management after delays to the construction of the main venue for the Futsal World Cup in Thailand last year meant the stadium was not used.
Hafez Al Medlej
Factbox on Hafez Al Medlej, who is standing for AFC elections.
Name: Hafez Al Medlej
Born: 1969
Country: Saudi Arabia
Roles: Saudi Arabia Football Federation council member since 2001, AFC executive committee member since 2007, Chairman of the AFC’s marketing Committee since 2011
Manifesto pledges: Having run a campaign with little publicity it is unclear what Al Medlej plans to do in his role should he win the vote.
Support: Viewed as a compromise candidate in West Asia, it is thought he will stand down from the race if he does not have the full support of the region. That would require his West Asian rivals Yousuf Al Serkal of UAE and Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa to pull out, which appears unlikely unless the Saudi government uses its influence in the region.
Positives: Has not had allegations of wrongdoing thrown at him, unlike his rivals.
Criticism: With few manifesto pledges, and speculation he will pull out before the vote, his motives for running are unclear.
