By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
February 26 – The race to replace Mohamed bin Hammam to run the game in Asia and become one of the most powerful figures in world football has taken a remarkable new twist with the announcement that Worawi Makudi of Thailand has thrown his hat into the ring.
News that the controversial Thai FA president, a FIFA executive committee member, has become the latest contender for Asian Football Confederation president, to be decided in early May in Kuala Lumpur, represents another eye-catching development given the allegations that have swirled around Makudi, regarded as a staunch ally of bin Hamman whose fight to clear his name ended in December.
Makudi, an executive committee member since 1997, was one of those who accompanied bin Hammam to the infamous meeting in Trinidad in May 2011 where the Qatari is alleged to have handed out $40,000 in cash bribes to Caribbean Football Union members in what became known as the cash-for-votes scandal.
Also in 2011, Makudi strongly denied claims that he misused thousands of dollars’ worth of FIFA development grants to build facilities on land that he personally owned in and around Bangkok. Although he was investigated and cleared of any wrongdoing – he claimed the allegations were designed to defame his reputation – rumours and speculation persist.
Makudi has in the past also strongly denied further unfounded claims that he sought broadcasting rights for a possible Thailand versus England friendly in return for voting for England to host the 2018 World Cup.
More recently, the way he runs Thai football was questioned by a parliamentary committee in his own country.
Makudi joins Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, United Arab Emirates FA chief Yousuf Al Serkal and Saudi Arabia’s Hafez El Medlej as probable contenders to be in charge of the AFC until 2015, with the present incumbent Zhang Jilong of China still undecided whether to run.
Lobbying is expected to intensify once the March 3 deadline for nominations is out of the way in what seems certain to be a classic election contest full of political intrigue and personal agendas.
Kuwait’s influential Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Ahmed Al Sabah has already said his country would support Sheikh Salman but Makudi, a FIFA Ex-Co member since 1997, was nominated by the 11-nation ASEAN grouping which covers south-east Asia while reports suggest Australia are also lining up behind him.
If true, that would give him a head start with almost a quarter of the entire 46-strong AFC membership. But election campaigns are renowned for switches of allegiance and last-minute deals so nothing, at this stage, should be taken as read.
In a statement Makudi said he was “extremely honoured to be proposed and nominated” by the ASEAN regional body which comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. “My main target as the AFC president would be to bring everybody together and to unite the Asian Football Confederation.”
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