By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Dubai
April 8 – Against the backdrop of one of the world’s most famous racecourses, Asian Football Confederation presidential candidate Yousuf Al Serkal surged out of the blocks today and declared himself the best man to restore unity and transparency to the troubled region.
“If I am successful I will lead the way to make the AFC much more transparent with improved governance in order that we regain the integrity of the game in Asia,” said Al Serkal who chose an opulent hotel conference centre next to the state-of-the-art Meydan racecourse in Dubai to state his case for being given one of the most powerful jobs in world football.
A close colleague of former AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam, whose position is up for grabs after he finally threw in the towel and was subsequently banned from football following a lengthy corruption scandal, Al Serkal tellingly told his audience he would be ultra-careful when dealing with AFC finances. “I will publically declare all allowances and benefits given to me by the Confederation, and expenditure occurred by my office,” he said.
He also stressed that bridging the gap between professional and amateur football in Asia was “critical” and in what was a clear reference to the scourge of illegal betting dens in parts of the Continent, Al Serkal also announced a whistle blower programme “to allow players and officials to report in absolute confidence any irregularities – whether in match-fixing or any other issue relating to football.”
The four-candidate election process is already shaping up as a close affair with Thailand’s Worawi Makudi, Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and the rank outsider, Saudi Arabia’s Hafez Al Medlej, all still in the race though the last of these is widely expected to withdraw before the ballot on May 2 and lend his support to Al Serkal.
“We are at a time when our stakeholders believe that the leaders in the game are only in it for themselves – this must change,” said Al Serkal whose campaign slogan is Football at Heart. “Most of our time in the last two years, amid all the volatility of the Confederation, has been spent working on political issues which destroys unity. I want to see an AFC where Football is the first and only topic on our agenda. I want to take fast steps to re-unite the association.”
Asked at a round-table session shortly after his presentation whether his long-standing friendship with bin Hammam, the Qatari whose nine-year AFC presidency split the continent’s members, would ultimately work against him, Al Serkal, head of the United Arab Emirates federation, insisted it would not.
“We come from the same region, from neighbouring countries, yes, and have known each other for a long time. We are close friends but that had nothing to do with work. I often had different ideas and opinions in meetings with bin Hammam. They may not have made him pleased but that’s how I am. I keep friendship separate from work.”
In trademark electioneering style, Al Serkal spoke during his address of how much he loved football – it would be somewhat odd if this was not the case – and how the game was as close to him as his own family. Sheikh Salman has already pronounced himself as clear favourite to take over as president from bin Hammam and from Zhang Jilong of China who has held the post on an interim basis for the last two years but decided not to stand.
While he was careful not to bad-mouth any of his adversaries, Al Serkal, who distributed a glossy campaign brochure and is certainly ahead in the public relation stakes, insisted he was the one with the experience and know-how to take the game forward in Asia after 20 years in the game. “I respect the right of every candidate to be elected …but I think I’m the best-placed, without being unjust and unfair to my colleagues, to drive Asian football forward in terms of the diverse experience I have gained.”
One clear negative for Al Serkal as he tries to garner enough support among the 47 AFC member nations appears to be widespread backing for Sheikh Salman by the Olympic Council of Asia whose representatives are likely to be out in force in Kuala Lumpur in the build-up to the vote.
Al Serkal acknowledged as such but insisted – as he had to, of course – that it would not prove a major stumbling block as he persues a relentless lobbying campaign in the final three weeks. “I’m very confident I will win but I don’t like one independent sports body interfering in the issues of another and I wish it wasn’t like that,” he admitted. “But it’s a reality. The OCA are trying hard to influence the voting but so far it has had no impact on my campaign. They might have some influence but not to an extent where they will unduly decide the voting towards one candidate rather than another.”
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