By Paul Nicholson
November 8 – Two Bahraini footballers at the centre of the human rights abuse allegations against FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman have come forward saying there was “absolutely” no torture and that they have no knowledge of him being involved in action against protest marchers in 2011.
Sayed Adnan and national team goalkeeper Ali Saeed (pictured) have refuted allegations that there was a brutal hunting down of Shia footballers who took part in the pro-democracy marches, and that this lead to torture and public humiliation.
This is the first time any Bahraini footballers have gone public since the allegations first arose. Their statements throw considerable doubt over the media outrage that has been fuelled by US and UK bodies that describe themselves as Bahraini human rights organisations.
The stories currently circulating in western media are all re-hashed from articles first published two years ago at the time of Sheikh Salman’s election to the presidency of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presidency and FIFA’s executive committee at the AFC Congress in May 2013.
Insideworldfootball, which reported these allegations in 2013, has also learned from senior political and law enforcement sources that the human rights organisations leading the press push (who they suggest should more accurately be described as political pressure groups) are allegedly linked to very questionable activity in the US that appears to provide funds for their campaigning.
Tomorrow FIFA completes its integrity checks for the FIFA presidency and it is unsure whether they have spoken to either the Bahraini players or the human rights organisations.
Insideworldfootball, who first contacted the Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) organisation in 2013, who in turn made protests to Michael Garcia who was FIFA chief ethics investigator, was contacted in 2014 to ask if we had contact with the players – they had been unable to establish contact. It was believed that the players had disappeared.
However, the truth was somewhat more simple, if not communicated. It seems most of the players were either still playing at clubs in other countries or still in the Bahraini league – though due to the situation in the country were reluctant to become embroiled in political campaigns.
The highest profile allegations against the Hubail brothers – Mohammed Hubail is a legend in Bahraini football and is the country’s leading goalscorer – who were rumoured to have run to Oman, are in fact in Bahrain with Mohammed signed to one of the country’s leading clubs.
Ali Saeed, who was arrested and jailed for three months and who was the country’s national team goalkeeper, said: “I didn’t say whether I would join or I would not join (the pro-democracy demonstrations) but the main point is I would not join anything that would cause a problem because now after 2011 we have achieved a balance. After the past four years I wouldn’t join a march that would cause any disbalance to this harmony because the man thing is we want to represent something that respects all parts of society. Even if I did join a march it was because for human rights and freedom and wasn’t anything political.”
Sayed Adnan said: “Why are you coming to us now? Is it because we are famous and everyone looks to us? You have chosen us to speak for the other dissidents but it is always the same things.”
Asked whether he was sure that there had been no torture of footballers he said: “Absolutely! I have been in Australia but did not hear one person that said he (Salman) did all these things.”
Asked if they knew of any reason why Sheikh Salman should not be president of FIFA the answers were forceful. “If you know of something wrong I will try to explain. But we have seen many years of Sepp Blatter. I don’t say he is bad but it is time to change. I don’t care (who is FIFA president). I hope it is Sheikh Salman, we need someone with a different mentality. All the people in the world are looking at football,” said Adnan.
Asked whether Sheikh Salman would be a good president of FIFA Saeed responded: “Sheikh Salman is a great candidate because he has the personality that could lead. Whether it was strategy or planning he would be really good (for the FIFA position).”
Both players were adamant that the AFC chief has already fought bitter political battles and that all these accusations had been made before. They questioned the source of these allegations.
“Why is it coming now,” asked Adnan. “He (Sheikh Salman) will be number one in the world if he comes to FIFA so nobody will be over him – they will not let him take it easy. They will look to find others (for the presidency) but tell me, who is really the good man? I am happy that Prince Ali of Lebanon [Jordan – ed) is a candidate. But I wish the best for Sheikh Salman because he is from my country. I will be proud if he cuts it. It is an honour for us if he is the one (president) of FIFA.”
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