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Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, and QFA’s candidate for an AFC seat on the FIFA Executive Committee, gives a presentation during a press conference at Four Seasons Hotel in Doha yesterday. PICTURES: SHAIVAL DALAL
DOHA: The Qatar Football Association (QFA) yesterday endorsed the candidature of Hassan Al Thawadi for a seat on the FIFA Executive Committee, saying the young Qatari should be backed by Asia ahead of key AFC elections early next month.
Al Thawadi, is contesting against Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifah for a post on the FIFA Executive Committee.
The AFC Extraordinary Congress will vote on May 2 to decide who wins coveted FIFA seat.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Thani, President of QFA, said Al Thawadi is capable of taking the game forward with his ‘dynamic leadership’.
“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 has demonstrated his immense capabilities to contribute to the world of football in his roles as CEO of our successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and now as 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.
Al Thawadi said he had been busy meeting football officials in the region for the few weeks, canvassing support for his bid that will be decided in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“My intention during this campaign was to speak to as many football associations as possible - regardless of size or perceived influence – and to listen to and understand the issues of most importance to them,” Al Thawadi said.
“The knowledge gained from these meetings has played an integral part in shaping the agenda that I have outlined today,” he said .
Speaking on the issue of his chances in terms of the elections, Al Thawadi added: “Sheikh Salman is a dear friend and a very strong candidate. However, the feedback that I have received from federations during my campaign has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Al Thawadi said: “The strength of Asia lies in the diversity and dynamism of its nations. Working with the AFC President, the member associations, and colleagues on the FIFA Executive Committee, I will work to expand Asian representation at FIFA, create opportunities for education at all levels of the game, accelerate football development, and use football as an engine for economic growth across our continent,” he said.
It is Al Thawadi’s belief that more effective governance and greater transparency are central to any strategy for increasing efficiency within associations and will eventually result in minimising costs, maximising national, continental and global opportunities, and optimising resources and revenues. THE PENINSULA
Mission Statement
“The strength of Asia lies in the diversity and dynamism of its nations. Together we will expand Asian representation at FI FA, create opportunities for education at all levels of the game, accelerate football development, and use football as an engine for economic growth across our continent. The fresh perspective that I bring, grounded in a professional background that includes football, business and the law, and strong relationships with global football stakeholders make me uniquely suited to empower our continent on the FIFA Executive Committee, while always working for the good of the global game. Together we will unleash Asia’s potential.”
Education
Access to education for players and other football stakeholders is of the utmost importance in building a sustainable industry around the sport. I will strive to broaden football’s role in the nations that comprise the AFC by developing and implementing programs that connect Asia’s football associations and clubs with schools, universities and specialist sports education schemes. This will provide players with longer-term careers in the game, and use football as a platform for building the knowledge and skills that will accelerate human, social and economic development within neighborhoods, communities and countries across Asia.
Development
Asia can become a global football powerhouse. To accelerate the continent’s progress towards reaching its potential, football development programs must be tailored to the differing needs of individual AFC member associations. I will work with FIFA to create and sustain locally relevant programmes that account for the current stage of development of individual nations. These programmes will aim to nurture a new generation of stars and provide opportunities for current players. Together we will push Asia to the front ranks of world football and contribute to the growth and improvement of football globally.
Commercialisation
I believe that Asia can harness the power of football, using it as a catalyst for economic growth. Our continent is already a cornerstone of the global economy. Interest in Asian football’s commercial potential is increasing both internally and externally. More fans are watching the AFC Asian Cup and the AFC Champions League, whether at the stadium or on television. European clubs view Asia as a key market for pre-season tours and for merchandise. The sponsorship potential of much of the continent remains untapped. In association with FIFA, I aim to establish platforms for dialogue and a network of knowledge transfer across Asia and the world. Putting to use my legal and business background and strong relationships with global football stakeholders, we will create the framework for increasing the organisational and commercial acumen of Asia’s football associations, assessing lessons learned globally and spreading best practices throughout our continent. More effective governance and greater transparency are central to my strategy for increasing efficiency within associations. This will minimize costs, maximise national, continental and global opportunities, and optimise resources and revenues.
Representation
Our continent includes 60% of the world’s population. Three of the six FIFA Partners are based in Asia. Yet we have only 17% representation on FIFA Committees. I pledge to take every possible step to increase Asian representation within FIFA, to ensure our contribution to the global growth of football. I believe that the process of enhancing our stature at FIFA begins in Asia. In collaboration with national associations and my AFC colleagues on the FIFA Executive Committee, we will train and recruit representatives from across Asia to staff these crucial FIFA Committees, in line with Asia’s goal of becoming a global football power - on the field and at FIFA.
Biography
** Hassan Al Thawadi, 34, currently serves as Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, the organisation responsible for coordinating between public and private entities in Qatar to ensure delivery of infrastructure and development projects for a successful 2022 FIFA World Cup.
** His appointment in March 2011 as Secretary General followed his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee, in which he worked closely with the Qatar Football Association and the Committee’s Chairman, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, to promote Qatar’s successful attempt to bring the FIFA World Cup to the Middle East for the first time.
** Trained as a lawyer, Al Thawadi has been widely recognised for his contributions in the fields of sports, business and law. Sport Business named him as a “Top 20 Innovator in Sport”. Gulf Business called him one of the “Top 100 World’s Most Influential Arabs”, while Arabian Business included him on a list of the “Power 500 World’s Most Influential Arabs. Legal Business hailed him as one of their “Top 30 Lawyers Under 40”.
** In addition to his work on the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, Al Thawadi serves as General Counsel of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Qatar Holding (QH) – entities founded by Qatar in 2005 to diversify the country’s economy – that have invested in Porsche, Volkswagen, Barclays Bank, the New York Stock Exchange and Harrods, amongst other global entities.
** Al Thawadi holds board positions with Hassad Food Company (Qatar’s premier worldwide investor in the agriculture and livestock sector), Katara Hospitality (Qatar’s leading hospitality owner, manager and developer), and Qatar Rail (the organisation responsible for the design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of Qatar’s rail network).
** His involvement in Qatari football has included playing for Al Sadd and working as a Legal Counsel for Al Sadd from 2006 until 2009. In that position, Al Thawadi worked on an internal disciplinary code, drafted players’ contracts and resolved conflicts. THE PENINSULA
Key points in the campaign
A: Enhanced representation for the AFC within FIFA with the aim of working toward fulfilling Asia’s latent potential to contribute to the growth of the football globally.
B: A focus on educational initiatives throughout football – to provide players in the region with a future in the game beyond their playing careers, to create links between educational institutions and the national associations throughout Asia and to provide increased access to courses for administrators and officials – all with the aim of contributing to the sustainable growth of football within Asia.
C: Optimising existing development projects with an emphasis on ensuring that existing initiatives and any developed in the future are carefully tailored to the specific needs and requirements of each member association.
D: To work toward creating the best environment for commercial and administrative success across the continent – maximising the existing commercial potential that Asian football has in abundance.
FIFA Executive Committee
FIFA Executive Committee (ExCo) is an institution of FIFA (the world governing body of football).
It is the main decision-making body of the organisation in the intervals of Congress.
Its members are elected by the FIFA Congress.
The Executive Committee consists of a President, elected by the Congress in the year following a FIFA World Cup, eight vice-presidents and 15 members, appointed by the confederations and associations.
It meets at least twice a year, with the mandate for each member lasting four years, and its role includes determining the dates, locations and format of tournaments, appointing FIFA delegates to the IFAB and electing and dismissing the General Secretary on the proposal of the FIFA President.
It is made up of the following representatives:
CONMEBOL: one vice-president and two members
AFC: one vice-president and three members
UEFA: two vice-presidents and five members
CAF: one vice-president and three members
CONCACAF: one vice-president and two members
OFC: one vice-president
The FA, SFA, FAW and IFA: one vice-president
