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ST. PETERSBURG: This file photo taken on July 25, 2015 shows UEFA president (center) and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (left) arriving to attend the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers at the Konstantin Palace in Saint Petersburg. — AFP Asian chief poised for FIFA bid

KUALA LUMPUR: The head of Asian foot- planned to go ahead on February 26 with slide election in 2013 to succeed disgraced Shaikh Salman would have a major ball is poised to announce a bid for the FIFA Platini among the candidates who have Qatari Mohamed bin Hammam as presi- clear-up job on his hands at FIFA, a similar presidency, a source told AFP yesterday, in until October 26 to register. dent of the Asian Football Confederation situation to the one he inherited at the AFC a move that would dramatically reshape The other potential contenders make up (AFC). In April, he strengthened his grip when he took over from bin Hammam the election race. a varied group that includes ’s Zico, when he won a fresh four-year term unop- promising a clean slate. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa former FIFA deputy secretary general posed and became a FIFA vice-president- In the ongoing fall-out from bin could make a formal announcement as ear- Jerome Champagne and South African taking a post previously held by Prince Ali- Hammam’s reign, AFC secretary general ly as yesterday and would be a serious con- anti-apartheid campaigner Tokyo Sexwale. into the bargain. Alex Soosay was suspended in May over an tender given his position as the leader of It is a situation that could leave the way Shaikh Salman has thrived in his alliance alleged cover-up of financial documents in FIFA’s second-largest confederation. clear for the soft-spoken Shaikh Salman, with Sheikh Ahmad, who was elected to 2012. He later resigned. A bid by the Bahraini royal would be who was a staunch backer of the corrup- FIFA’s executive committee at the April Peter Velappan, a long-time AFC secre- another major blow to already suspended tion-tainted Blatter until recent months. congress and is also a major player in the tary general from 1978-2007, said he want- vice-president Michel Platini, whom he for- Shaikh Salman is also an unshakeable Olympic movement. ed an Asian candidate to lead the world merly backed for the FIFA job, and his Asian supporter of Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 The imposing Kuwaiti, a supporter of body, but he warned: “Running FIFA is not rival Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan. World Cup, whose controversial bidding International Olympic Committee president a small job. FIFA has been thrown into turmoil with process was the subject of an internal FIFA Thomas Bach, heads the influential Olympic outgoing chief , former investigation. Council of , which runs the Asian “I don’t think many people are happy favourite Platini and South Korean candi- The Manchester United fan and one- Games among other major events. He is with him (Shaikh Salman). He is the leader date Chung Mong-Joon all suspended, and time accountancy drop-out drifted also president of the Association of of the AFC but he has not been seen as corruption allegations engulfing the world between careers and even had a spell as a National Olympic Committees, which has doing enough for Asia,” said Velappan. body. customs officer before turning his hand to more than 200 members, and chairs the The Malaysian veteran, who supports Despite mounting sleaze claims and football administration. Olympic Solidarity Commission, which Prince Ali’s bid, added: “It’s been a long criminal charges against senior figures Backed by Kuwaiti powerbroker Sheikh hands out grants for athletes and sports time and now is the time for someone from including Blatter, FIFA elections are still Ahmad al Fahad al Sabah, he won a land- development. Asia to take over at FIFA.” — AFP