Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim re-elected AFC President

Kuala Lumpur, Apr. 6 (BNA): Bahrain’s Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has retained his position as president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Shaikh Salman, who was absent at the AFC congress following the demise of his mother, HH Shaikha Aisha bint Salman Al Khalifa, was elected by acclamation as there were no other contestants and the member country delegates did not have to cast their ballots. Shaikh Salman will be a vice-president ex-officio of FIFA, the world football governing body. In his address to the congress, FIFA president Giovanni Infantino hailed Shaikh Salman's re-election. "It is good to show a united football family, and to move forward in stability here in Asia," he said. In his speech to the congress, read out by incumbent AFC council member Praful Patel, Shaikh Salman said AFC had come a long way. AFC will support FIFA as the centre of the sport moves towards Asia in the coming years, he added. "In the next few years Asia will be at the center of the football world. The Olympics in Tokyo next summer followed two years later by the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022," he said. Sheikh Salman became president of the AFC in 2013 following his election to replace former president Mohammed bin Hammam, who was banned for life by FIFA for corruption. In 2015, Shaikh Salman was re-elected unopposed.