By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – Kuwait’s Olympic supremo Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, one of the most influential powerbrokers in world sport, has formally put his name forward to take up one of Asia’s slots on the FIFA executive committee. Ahead of Saturday’s deadline, Skeikh Ahmad has been officially nominated by his home football federation, prompting immediate speculation that he may ultimately be setting his sights on the FIFA presidency in 2019.
It is understood Sheikh Ahmad is going specifically for the FIFA exco position that has a two-year rather than a four-year term, the one to be vacated by AFC President Sheikh Salman Ebrahim bin Al Khalifa when he combines his current role with that of Asia’s FIFA vice-president.
President of two key Olympic bodies – the Association of National Olympic Committees and also of the Olympic Council of Asia – Skeikh Ahmad’s nomination seems bound to win him a place at the top table of FIFA from where he could influence proceedings if, as some believe, he has desires on becoming the first Asian leader of world football, something Mohamed bin Hammam tried and failed to achieve.
He may, alternatively, be interested in replacing Sheikh Salman as head of Asian football though perhaps not for a while. So far, Sheikh Salman is standing unopposed at the election at the end of April.
Other declared candidates for the three vacant AFC seats on the FIFA exco include Chung Mong-gyu (president of the South Korean federation), Worawi Makudi (head of the Thai FA), Tengku Abdullah of Malaysia, Saud Al Mohannadi (vice-president of the Qatar Football Association) and Japan’s Kohzo Tashima.
In a statement, the Kuwaiti Football Association said it had nominated its former president and current honorary president because he had “an unrivalled understanding of Asian sport administration and his commitment to using sport to unite the region and promote equality and good governance.”
KFA secretary-general Sahoo Al Sahoo said there was ” no better candidate” since Sheikh Ahmad had “an unrivalled understanding of football – and sport generally – in Asia and across the world through his positions at the highest level of sport administration.
“He has been at the forefront of the region’s rise in prominence on the international stage which has seen the world’s biggest sporting properties being awarded to Asia.
“Throughout his career he has championed sport as a vehicle for fairness, equality and respect and has led the way in Asian sport in the fight against racism and corruption. We have no doubt that he will make an excellent contribution to the development of football in Asia.”
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