The words were worthy enough, the message unequivocal. But the real intentions were cringingly obvious to anyone who has followed Asian football politics.
Last week’s attempt by Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa’s to mark the first anniversary of his leadership by focussing on his so-called achievements served only to highlight the unedifying rift that continues to divide his increasingly fractious organisation.
Ever since he took over last year, the Bahraini has been determined to increase his power base by trying to merge his presidency with the FIFA vice-presidency currently held by Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Hussein. The pair are supposed to be colleagues singing from the same hymn sheet. Instead they have become political foes, adopting very different tunes.
So bitter has the spat become that Prince Ali, whose reformist methods are anathema to Asian football’s traditionalists, was forced to recently send an open letter to the entire AFC membership stressing the need to concentrate on developing the sport on and off the pitch and accusing Salman of playing politics.
Salman decided that silence was the best response. Yet now, in his anniversary statement, here was the perfect opportunity to put his side of the story; to tell his supporters why he felt his merger plan, which would end Prince Ali’s role in one fell swoop, was the right thing to do.
Did he do that? Did he heck. Instead, with his own position due to expire next May, what we got was a blatant election rallying cry, reminding AFC members of his original manifesto launched “under the banner of unity and with a mission to reunite a divided confederation.”
It didn’t stop there. Sheikh Salman talked of fostering “a stronger and more inclusive relationship with the AFC member associations” and of introducing “initiatives based on the core principles of transparency and good governance.”
Only those at the heart of Asian football directly affected by Salman’s presidency can honestly list what has been achieved so far. Some of the improvements he claims to have brought about may well be true, not least when it comes to providing more opportunities for Asia’s flagship tournaments. But to give the impression that everything in the garden is rosy when everyone knows that poisonous weeds are growing underfoot is simply laughable and has fooled absolutely no-one.
How different to a year ago when, despite constant allegations of human rights violations in his homeland, Salman came to power on a platform which, as he reminded delegates last week, “laid out a blueprint for a democratic and inclusive AFC based on the principles of transparency, integrity and good governance.”
Has he shown transparency and integrity in trying to wrest Asia’s FIFA vice-presidency from under Prince Ali’s feet? Has he fulfilled, in his own words, the “moral obligation to restore the AFC’s reputation” after years of the confederation being embroiled in mismanagement under previous regimes?
The end of his bullish statement talks of “striving to take Asian football to the next level in a spirit of unity, co-operation and respect.” Once again, fine words. Next week Jordan breaks new ground by hosting the Soccerex Asian Forum in Prince Ali’s own backyard . It would appear that Salman is unable to attend. He has a previous engagement in Vietnam for the start of the AFC women’s Asian Cup. What a shame. It would have been interesting to witness the extent of such unity, co-operation and respect.
Andrew Warshaw was formerly Sports Editor of the The European newspaper and is chief correspondent of Insideworldfootball. Contact Andrew at moc.l1734830700labto1734830700ofdlr1734830700owdis1734830700ni@wa1734830700hsraw1734830700.werd1734830700na1734830700