By David Owen
January 4 – The first of many prospective personnel changes on FIFA’s ruling 24-member Executive Committee is set to come this week with elections due in Asia.
Members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) vote on Thursday (January 6) on a range of posts at the 24th AFC Congress in Qatar, the gas-rich Gulf state that is the fatherland of AFC President, Mohamed Bin Hammam and recently won the race to host the 2022 World Cup.
In what will be the most closely-watched duel, South Korea’s Chung Mong-joon – seen by some as a potential rival later in the year to Joseph Blatter as FIFA President – is being challenged for his position as FIFA vice-president by His Royal Highness Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan (pictured).
Prince Ali is the latest of the late King Hussein’s children to be seeking high office in the international sports arena.
Princess Haya is President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), while Prince Faisal is head of the Jordanian Olympic Committee.
Both are members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
A further four candidates, including the incumbent, Worawi Makudi of Thailand, are set to compete for up to another two FIFA Executive Committee slots.
The individuals concerned are Makudi, Vernon Manilal Fernando of Sri Lanka, Japan’s Kohzo Tashima and Zhang Jilong of China, widely seen as a future World Cup host.
All positions will have a four-year term until 2015.
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