By Paul Nicholson
October 2 – Speculation that Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa could become a candidate in the race for FIFA’s presidency has been met with a statement from his office saying that his priority is to represent the AFC, and his “obligations are primarily to Asia”.
Arabic media have been speculating in recent days there is pressure being placed on Salman to enter the presidential race, but only if Platini is unable to run.
Salma acknowledged the rumours saying that he noted the media speculation and “that my name was thrown into the mix by others recently and I would like to thank them for their trust and confidence in my leadership although the thought of being a candidate in 2016 never crossed my mind.”
While he acknowledged that as a FIFA Vice President it is his “responsibility and obligation to protect FIFA and world football”, it is AFC work that he is focussed on.
“My obligations today are primarily to Asia, and we too have lots to do in order to further strengthen and streamline our Confederation. That is a major endeavor and it is a worthy challenge to reorganize and strengthen the AFC,” he said.
But Salman did say that with the uncertainty surrounding FIFA
“what FIFA needs more urgently than ever, is a firm hand to run the world body competently and with a determination to conduct its affairs professionally and with a maximum level of transparency.”
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