By Andrew Warshaw
April 4 – The high-ranking Asian official at the centre of the latest cover-up allegations to rock the region has not only re-iterated that he is innocent of any wrongdoing but that the dark days of his organisation’s corruption-tainted past are over.
Last week, the Malay Mail newspaper devoted its first three pages to claims that Asian Football Confederation general secretary Dato’ Alex Soosay had asked for any incriminatory evidence against him during the 2012 probe into the conduct of his one-time boss, Mohamed bin Hammam, be removed.
The paper said it had obtained a video interview from July 2012 in which AFC financial director Bryan Kuan Wee Hong told a FIFA investigator Soosay had come to him to help cover up what had been going on under bin Hammam who was banned from football for life by FIFA that year for repeated violations of its code of ethics.
The latest report could hardly have come at a more awkward time for Soosay, just a few days before his very public appearance at the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Bahrain.
But he is unmoved by the claims and says they won’t affect his position.
“It’s been a bit of a disturbing time I have to admit but I have the full support of my colleagues,” he said. “I don’t see there is any issue because the case has already been dealt with. We know who leaked the information but there’s nothing to worry about.”
Although it cannot be verified, AFC insiders say Soosay is a victim of the autocratic regime that was run by bin Hammam. The AFC has issued its own statement saying it “takes note of recent media allegations concerning a case dating from 2012, and is currently seeking to assess the veracity of these allegations. Any new information will be passed on to the relevant bodies for consideration as appropriate.”
In an interview with Insideworldfootball, Soosay said he believes the new Asian FIFA executive committee members elected last week – Prince Abdullah Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Hj Ahmad Shah (Malaysia, ASEAN zone), Kohzo Tashima (Japan, east zone) and the all-powerful Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah (Kuwait, west zone) – will jointly help to clean up the organisation after years of adverse publicity and bring a more “fresh, clean” image to the region.
Much has been made of Sheikh Ahmed’s influence but Soosay said Tashima and Prince Abdullah would play equally important roles at FIFA.
“There is a strong respect for them both,” said Soosay. “They are both clean and transparent. Tashima is a real footballing man, he has a clear objective and vision. Prince Abdullah is widely respected for his stability and won’t swing towards either east or west politically.
“We don’t need any more politics. We want a new voice at FIFA. What we have now is a strong balance. For the last 20 years, there hasn’t been much unity (within the AFC). All we have had is factions in Asia. Since Sheikh Salman took over – and I’m not just saying this because it’s him – there are positive signs. We need to move forward with one direction.”
The most important task of the new-look Asian representation at FIFA, in the immediate future, will be to push for more World Cup participation
“Asia is unique with five different regions. We have to fight for an extra half-slot,” said Soosay. “We’ll to have to work for it but that’s why we elected them. They are all of one state of mind.”
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