By Andrew Warshaw
March 16 – Brunei’s football federation has sought to play down reports that it will be supporting Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein against Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency.
Last week following a meeting between Prince Ali, FIFA’s outgoing Asian vice-president, and Prince Sufri Bolkiah, brother of the Sultan of Brunei, on the fringes of an Asian Football Confederation executive committee session, Jordanian reports suggested Brunei would be standing behind their man in the May elections.
That, on paper, appeared to contradict repeated pledges by Asian football supremo Sheikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa that the whole continent was behind Blatter.
It is important to note that while royal families and governments don’t have a vote per se in sporting ballots, they have long been known to influence the actions of national federations, especially in Arab countries. Hence the excitement felt by Prince Ali’s supporters.
Yet no sooner had it been reported that both Brunei – and, even more surprisingly, Sheikh Salman’s native Bahrain – were behind Prince Ali than the former’s federation were quick to shoot down any misunderstanding by stating no commitment whatsoever had been made to him.
A Brunei FA statement said: “During a brief private meeting requested by HRH Prince Ali, both HRH Prince Sufri Bolkiah and HRH Prince Ali had the opportunity to discuss common sports interests. HRH Prince Sufri Bolkiah, expressed his great respect to HRH Prince Ali, for his contribution to football and his vision to lead FIFA.
“HRH Prince Sufri Bolkiah also express his shared respects and well wishes to all the other FIFA candidates, especially to the current FIFA president Mr Joseph S Blatter, who has contributed and proved his commitment to the world football and to the NFABD.
“The NFABD wishes to clarify that HRH Prince Sufri Bolkiah, made no open assurance or commitment to any one particularly bid for the candidacy of FIFA President.
“HRH Prince Sufri Bolkiah maintains the equal respect to all candidates, and in the true spirit of the sport, will support the successful candidate. Furthermore, the NFABD along with the other members of Asian Football Confederation, remain committed to the pledge made during the AFC meeting in Sao Paolo, Brazil last year.”
The statement, whilst seemingly unequivocal in its support for Blatter, could also be construed as a classic case of political trouble-shooting designed to offset any suggestion that Brunei might go against Salman’s wishes.
More often than not, candidates are wary about showing their hand in public beforehand. Prince Ali is confident of gaining at least some Asian support and it may well be Brunei does ultimately go against the grain and vote for him in what is a secret ballot.
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