By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
April 17 – The festering divisions that have characterised Asian football in recent months have exploded into open warfare between the Continent’s two most prominent officials.
An exasperated FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has taken the rare step of writing an open letter to the entire Asian football membership denouncing Asian Football Confederation chief Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa for trying to mastermind his downfall by playing politics instead of concentrating on his own role to improve the status and credibility of the sport.
Last month INSIDEworldfootball exclusively revealed that Salman was seeking to increase his power base by unconstitutionally attempting to combine the positions of AFC president and Asia’s FIFA vice president, even though the same proposal was overwhelmingly crushed by all but two of Asia’s 47 members at the AFC Congress last year.
Riding roughshod over the vote of his own Congress, Salman took his case to FIFA’s executive committee last month but there, too, saw the merger idea summarily dismissed and was told it was a confederation responsibility.
But he is refusing to accept defeat, somehow managing to place the contentious proposal back on the agenda at this year’s AFC Congress in Sao Paolo in June, having apparently this time gained the support of a handful of AFC members – though not nearly as many as he needs.
A furious Prince Ali, who has held his position since 2011 while Salman was only voted in as new AFC president last year, badly wants another four-year mandate in 2015 to complete his programme of much-needed reforms. But if the AFC statutes are changed in Sao Paolo, he knows his position would be seriously threatened after only one four-year term.
In a strongly worded letter to the Continent’s entire membership, he pulls no punches, saying he was “truly surprised” that a proposal kicked out last year had suddenly resurfaced so “vigorously” just months later, led by Salman.
Salman spent much of his time at this week’s AFC meetings in Kuala Lumpur lobbying for support behind the scenes. According to Prince Ali’s letter, eight AFC members are now backing the merger proposal though that number, crucially, is well short of the three-quarters majority Salman will need to change the statutes.
“It is regrettable that the AFC presidency has spent so much time and energy over the past few days in Kuala Lumpur lobbying heavily for this proposal amongst Asian member association representatives, instead of working hand in hand for the development of football in Asia,” said Prince Ali’s letter.
“In fact it has become the central issue on the AFC President’s football agenda in Asia. It is unfortunate that the direction taken by the AFC president and other AFC officials is one driven purely by politics instead of focusing our energies and valuable time to improving the game in Asia.”
The AFC leadership should instead address “the myriad challenges that AFC faces in marketing, grassroots football, women’s football, transparency and accountability and the list goes on.
“It is worth noting, as well, that the AFC President has the right to run as FIFA vice-president or any other FIFA Executive seat from Asia,” the letter continued. “There aren’t any provisions in our statutes that prevent the president from doing so democratically.”
Whilst some confederations combine positions in question, others don’t and Prince Ali explained why he believed the AFC presidency and FIFA vice-presidency should remain separate.
“I believe there is wisdom in maintaining the two positions separate. It allows the FIFA vice-president to focus on Asian football issues in FIFA while the AFC president focuses on addressing football challenges in Asia and strengthening football development which is a very big task.”
Prince Ali’s entourage are understood to be particularly surprised that the Qatari FA is one of those in favour streamlining the two positions. Last year Hassan Al-Thawadi, head of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid, failed in his attempt to win a seat on the FIFA exco – beaten by Salman.
Quite how Salman has now managed to persuade a group of federations to change their minds when the proposal was so overwhemingly thrown out a year ago is one of many intriguing questions.
“My work will continue regardless of the outcome of this proposal,” said Prince Ali. “I only urge member associations and football officials to think about our priorities in Asia and decide accordingly. Let us choose football over politics.”
Prince Ali’s letter in full:
‘Open Letter to the Asian Football Community
I would like to share my thoughts with the football community in Asia and beyond about the latest developments at the Asian Football Confederation regarding the position of FIFA Vice President.
There are intensive efforts underway to merge the AFC presidency with the position of FIFA Vice President in 2015, essentially canceling the position I hold today in Asian and global football. A position my predecessor has held for more than 15 years. A position I have been democratically elected to in January 2011.
The proposal to merge the FIFA Vice President position with the AFC presidency has been presented today by the following member associations: Afghanistan Football Federation, DPR Korea Football Association, Football Association of Indonesia, Bahrain Football Association, Qatar Football Association, Pakistan Football Federation, Football Federation of Sri Lanka And Yemen Football Association.
This proposal will be discussed and decided on at the AFC Congress in Brazil. While I respect these member associations, I stand strongly opposed to their position for the following reasons, which I have shared with my dear colleagues on both the FIFA and AFC Executive Committees respectively.
First, let us remember that this proposal was introduced to the AFC Congress in May 2013 at the request of the All Nepal Football Association, Pakistan Football Association and Sri Lanka Football Association.
The AFC Congress, which comprises all Asian member associations, has rejected this proposal by an overwhelming majority (98% of the Congress voted NO to merging the two positions together). The very Congress that elected the current AFC President has made its decision on the matter at our annual Congress a year ago.
Second, I stand firm by my conviction that all sport, including our sport; football, should be free from politics and completely devoid of politicos and self-interest individuals and groups that exploit the sport and all its stakeholders for their own personal gains. That is the foundation of my ethos that I live and work throughout my 15-year career in football.
Third, I am truly surprised that this proposal has resurfaced in the past few months; led vigorously by the current AFC President. In fact, it has become the central issue on the AFC President’s football agenda in Asia.
It is unfortunate that the direction taken by the AFC President and other AFC officials is one driven purely by politics instead of focusing our energies and valuable time to improving the game in Asia and addressing the myriad challenges that AFC faces in marketing, grassroots football, women’s football, transparency and accountability and the list goes on.
It is regrettable that the AFC Presidency has spent so much time and energy over the past few days in Kuala Lumpur lobbying heavily for this proposal amongst Asian member association representatives; instead of working hand in hand for the development of football in Asia.
It is worthy to note, as well, that the AFC President has the right to run as FIFA-VP or any other FIFA Executive seat from Asia. There aren’t any provisions in our statutes that prevent the president from doing so democratically.
Fourth, I believe there is wisdom in maintaining the two positions separate. It allows the FIFA Vice President to focus on Asian football issues in FIFA, while the AFC President focuses on addressing football challenges in Asia and strengthening football development which is a very big task. AFC is not the only confederation to follow this system.
Moreover, there is also a confederation that has more than one Vice President Representative at FIFA.
Lastly, allow me to say that I have had a rich experience in the past 3 plus years as FIFA Vice President, particularly in Asia. I have run for this position with a clear election programme that outlines four principle pillars; youth development, women empowerment, the protection and positive evolution of the sport and active representation and advocacy for Asian member associations.
And I have rolled up my sleeves from day one to address the challenges Asia faces in all domains; whether through the committees I serve on in FIFA and the AFC or through the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), a non-profit organization that only exists today to support all football organisations across Asia to move up and ahead and realise the continent’s potential.
My work will continue regardless of the outcome of this proposal. I only urge member associations and football officials to think about our priorities in Asia and decide accordingly. Let us choose football over politics.
Let us be true to the sport; its values and the community without which we are not here at AFC; the players (men and women), the coaches, the referees, the fans and all those who spend tireless efforts in the best interest of football- in action, not only in words.
I am committed to continuing my work in Asian football and I look forward to working with all of you to achieve these goals in the most honorable and respectful way in the service of football. I am only addressing you out of respect and in full transparency because I truly believe in a football family not in words but in action.
Looking forward to seeing you in Brazil.
Your brother and friend in football,
Ali Bin Al Hussein
FIFA Vice President- Asia’
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734927509labto1734927509ofdlr1734927509owedi1734927509sni@w1734927509ahsra1734927509w.wer1734927509dna1734927509
