Dubai: The President of the UAE Football Association (UAE FA) is hoping to use July’s executive committee meeting of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to network and consolidate his position as a candidate to lead the continental football body.
Asian football was thrown into turmoil last year after then-AFC President Mohammad Bin Hammam was banned for life for trying to buy delegates’ votes while campaigning to unseat Fifa boss Sepp Blatter in the run-up to the elections.
Bin Hammam has appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne claiming that the cash hand-outs were merely gifts.
“There is no official opening for the presidential nomination as yet and we are waiting for the AFC to announce the date first. Once we know the date then we can officially say we are contesting,” UAE FA President Yousuf Al Sarkal told Gulf News.
China’s Zhang Jilong has been temporarily installed to head the AFC until the new president is elected.
The success or failure of Bin Hammam’s appeal to the CAS will shape the future of Asian football.
If Bin Hammam wins, Jilong will have to step aside and make way for the Qatari. However, if he loses, his career in football will be effectively over with the AFC required to elect a leader either at an emergency congress or a scheduled gathering, at the earliest February or March 2013.
“Though there is no word on the nomination date, I have been in contact with all the federations in Asia and I believe I have a good chance to contest for the position once the nomination date is finalised,” Al Sarkal said.
“Our meeting is on July 19 and I am going there on July 17 as I have to attend a Competitions Committee meeting on July 18.
“I have had many, many meetings through the 20 years that I have spent with the AFC and hence the relationship with the majority of our members is very good.
“Whenever the elections, I am going ahead with my candidature for the president’s post.”
Though no one has declared their interest, other potential candidates seem to be Malaysia’s Prince Abdullah Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah (one of four vice-presidents at the AFC along with Al Sarkal), Japan’s Kohzo Tashima and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussain of Jordan, who is also a Fifa vice-president. Jilong is yet to voice his interest in taking the role full-time.
As per AFC election procedures, candidates get a one-month period to file nominations followed by a further two months for networking, canvassing and campaigning.
“I am focused as I believe I am the right candidate to lead Asia,” Al Sarkal said.
