By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
May 13 – The controversial appointment of a North Korean woman to serve at the top table of Asian football is being viewed in some quarters with considerable scepticism and a backward step in terms of bringing openness and transparency back to the troubled Continent.
Almost forgotten amid Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa’s landslide Presidential election victory two weeks ago was the rubber-stamping of three women to the executive committee of the Asian Football Confederation. Moya Dodd, a former vice-captain of Australia’s national team, was re-elected unopposed as the AFC’s female vice-president while North Korea’s Han Un-Gyong and Palestine’s Susan Shalabi also earned seats, chosen by the east and west zones respectively.
On paper, having four woman on the executive committee – Bangladesh’s Mahfuza Akhter already occupies the South and Central Zone seat – would appear a progressive move as the AFC attempts to enter a new era of unity and credibility.
Yet there are serious question marks about Han’s inclusion as a member of the body that will decide on future AFC strategy – and not only because of North Korea’s political isolation and human rights record, and its secretive totalitarian regime.
Two years ago, in the biggest doping scandal at one of its tournaments for 17 years, FIFA banned North Korea from the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada after five players tested positive for steroids. In addition, the North Korean FA was fined $400,000, and team doctor Nam Jong Ae banned for six years. Yet bizarrely, FIFA allowed North Korea to take part in the 2012 Olympics.
According to insiders, Han’s nomination as an AFC executive committee member was unanimously approved by her region which not only includes traditional ally China but also a raft of countries historically opposed to North Korea, including Japan and neighbour South Korea.
In the build-up to the AFC Congress earlier this month, the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) announced merely that it was giving its “full support” to Han without any explanation.
Although Han is not the first woman from North Korea to serve on the AFC executive committee, one insider asked: “Why has the region agreed on another North Korean to represent them, especially in the light of the World Cup ban? Why did no-one else from the east step forward? These are good questions.”
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