By Andrew Warshaw
October 17 – The race in Asia for a place at FIFA’s top table has been stepped up with the announcement that Malaysian FA president Prince Abdullah Shah will contest next year’s election for a position on FIFA’s executive committee.
The elections next spring will see candidates vying for three exco posts as the Asian Football Confederation’s leading FIFA representatives.
“I am committed to win this election to be able to serve Asia to the best of my capacity,” Prince Abdullah, an AFC vice-president, said during a press conference held in Kuala Lumpur. ” I intend to serve Asia as a good team player on a global scale … to bring Asia to where it belongs; a world super power in football.”
“I aim to work with the AFC President to secure more slots for Asia in the World Cup. I also want to propose that we are accorded a higher allocation in the number of seats for FIFA EXCO to ensure a bigger voice for Asia.
” We are the largest continent; we should start playing the part too. As the next FIFA EXCO member, I believe I will have more clout to lobby to obtain more resources to develop all aspects of football, including development, administration, technical, coaching, referee and of course youth and women’s football development.”
“I have and will always be a man who believes in peaceful resolutions. I have proven the effectiveness of this time and time again; be it in my own country, AFF or AFC.”
“I believe that I will be able to deliver on all these and more and with over half of my life dedicated to serving football, I am now seeking the opportunity to serve Asia in FIFA.”
Prince Abdullah is the longest serving AFC member and is also chairman of the 2015 Asian Cup due to be held in Australia.
His candidacy for the FIFA exco promises to create an intriguing fight for power, with a number of candidates vying for three spots from across the Asian region, including current FIFA vice-president Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan who loses that post next year and has already announced that he, too, will be seeking a FIFA exco place instead as he seeks to maintain a presence within FIFA’s inner sanctum.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734859792labto1734859792ofdlr1734859792owedi1734859792sni@w1734859792ahsra1734859792w.wer1734859792dna1734859792
