KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Football Confederation, which concluded the 29th AFC Congress in the capital city of Malaysia on Saturday, elected AIFF president Praful Patel as one of Asia’s six representatives who will serve on the FIFA council for the next four-year term (2019-2023).
In what is a landmark development for Indian football, Patel, who got 38 out of the 46 votes ballotted, becomes the first Indian to enter the prestigious council.
Meanwhile, in a related (and expected) development, the AFC re-elected Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa as president for another term. The Bahraini assumed office first in 2013 and is now set to complete a ten-year tenure. He also holds the position of FIFA vice president currently.
For the record, the AIFF chief was one of eight candidates in the election. Patel, along with HE Du Zhaocai (China PR), Kohzo Tashima (Japan), Mariano V Areneta, Jr (Philippines) and Saoud A Aziz M A Al-Mohannadi (Qatar), all secured simple majority after one round of voting.
After his election, Patel told Goal.com: “I am honoured and particularly proud not only for myself but for my country that we have been able to get into the elite club of countries who will be in the FIFA Council.”
The presence of the AIFF supremo in the FIFA executive council is expected give India a much stronger voice at the international stage. Patel told the football website that he expects to put the goodwill he has at the international stage to develop Indian football.
The presence of the AIFF supremo in the FIFA executive council is expected give India a much stronger voice at the international stage.
Election results in full:
AFC president and FIFA vice president
Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain) – elected by acclamation
FIFA Council
Praful Patel (India);
HE Du Zhaocai (China PR);
Kohzo Tashima (Japan);
Mariano V. Araneta, Jr. (Philippines);
Saoud A. Aziz M A Al-Mohannadi (Qatar)
Ms Mahfuza Akhter Kiron (Bangladesh)
AFC vice presidents
Central Zone
Mehdi Taj (Islamic Republic of Iran) – elected by aclamation
East Zone
Ganbaatar Amgalanbaatar (Mongolia)
ASEAN Zone
Zaw Zaw (Myanmar) – elected by acclamation
South Zone
Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat (Pakistan) – elected by acclamation
West Zone
Saoud A Aziz M A Al-Mohannadi (Qatar) – elected by acclamation
AFC executive committee
Central Zone
Sayed Ali Reza Aghazada (Afghanistan) – elected by acclamation
South Zone
Dasho Ugen Tsechup Dorji (Bhutan) – elected by acclamation
West Zone
Abed-Alkhaliq Masoud Ahmed (Iraq);
Hachem Haider (Lebanon);
Salem Said Salem Al Wahaibi (Oman);
Dr Hamid Mohammed Ali Al-Shaibani (Yemen)
ASEAN Zone
Chris Nikou (Australia) – elected by acclamation
Haji Hamidin Bin Haji Mohd Amin (Malaysia) – elected by acclamation
Dr Tran Quoc Tuan (Vietnam) – elected by acclamation
East Zone
Fok Kai Shan Eric (Hong Kong) – elected by acclamation
Female representatives on AFC Executive Committee
South Zone
Ms Mahfuza Akhter Kiron (Bangladesh);
East Zone
Ms Han Un Gyong (DPR Korea) – elected by acclamation
ASEAN Zone
Ms Kanya Keomany (Laos) – elected by acclamation
West Zone
Ms Susan RA Alshalabi (Palestine) – elected by acclamation
Central Zone
(To be contested at a later date)
