KUALA LUMPUR: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani (pictured), President of Qatar Football Association (QFA), yesterday congratulated Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa after the Bahraini swept the election to become the new AFC chief.
The 43-year-old Bahraini football chief emerged as a landslide winner with 33 votes out of a possible 46 while rivals Thailand’s Worawai Makudi (seven votes) and UAE’s Yusuf Al Sarkel (six votes) failed to impress AFC members with their campaigns.
“I congratulate Sheikh Salman on his win,” Sheikh Hamad said yesterday.
The QFA chief said the result was a surprise one as Sheikh Salman bagged most of the votes.
He said not many experts thought Al Sarkel would get only six votes.
The QFA chief said getting only six votes showed that many of the voters - despite making promises to vote for the Emirati - changed their minds at the last minute.
Sheikh Hamad said Qatar’s Hassan Al Thawadi ‘did well to bag 18 votes’ against Sheikh Salman in the race to secure a seat on the all-powerful FIFA Executive Committee.
Sheikh Salman bagged 28 votes while 34-year-old Al Thawadi picked up an impressive tally of 18 votes.
“This is something we could build on,” Sheikh Hamad said. “I am sure Hassan Al Thawadi will now work closely with AFC to promote the game of football in our continent,’ he added.
When asked about his relationship with Sheikh Salman, the QFA chief said: “My relationship with Sheikh Salman is strong on a personal level. We are equally good friends at the football level.”
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