AFC election

DUBAI (UAE), JULY 27: FIFA vice
president Prince Ali Al-Hussein
says the Asian Football
Confederation should waste no
time in electing a new president,
despite pleas from
Mohamed bin Hammam for
members to give him time to
appeal his life ban for bribery.
China's Zhang Jilong has
been interim AFC president
since bin Hammam was suspended
last month. Bin
Hammam, who helped his
native Qatar win the right to
host the 2022World Cup, has
stated he has no intention of
quitting as AFC president and
will appeal his ban to FIFA and
the Court of Arbitration for
Sport.
The AFC executive committee
will meet Friday and
Jordan's Prince Ali, who has
ruled out standing for the AFC
presidency, said thatwhile bin
Hammam has the right to
appeal, the process of replacing
himshould not be allowed
to drag on.
“Mr. bin Hammam has the
right to appeal and that is his
own personal decision andwe
respect that,”PrinceAli toldThe
Associated Press in an email.
“However, it would be unacceptable
for anyone to try and
drag AFC and Asian football
into any process through irresponsible
action. I certainlywill
not accept that.”
On AFC-headed paper, bin
Hammamwrote toAsianmembers
on Monday urging their
support during his appeal and
anticipated delays before he
can present his case.
PrinceAli's viewwas echoed
by Japan Football Association
president JunjiOgura,whosaid
earlier Tuesday that bin
Hammam “has been banned
for life so I think an election
needs to be held.”
“He doesn't think he has
done anythingwrong and said
he has no intention of quitting
as AFC President and FIFA
executive,” Ogura said, referring
to a letterhe receivedfrom
bin Hammam.
Zhang respondedtotheFIFA
decision at the weekend by
issuing a statement saying it
was a “sad day for the AFC and
Asian football.”
“AFCrespectsFIFA'sdecision
and we also acknowledge former
AFC President Mohamed
bin Hammam's inalienable
right to lodge anappeal against
the decision.”
Requests for interviewswith
Zhang and AFC executive
members have beenrepeatedly
declined by the AFC, which
says the outcome of Friday's
meeting will be announced in
a statement and no members
will be available for comment.
PrinceAli saidhedidn't think
the binHammamaffairwould
damage the reputation of
MiddleEast football,whichwas
on an upswing afterQatarwas
last year awarded the right to
host the 2022World Cup.
“Football in theMiddle East
is advancing step by step and
we all must continue to focus
on developing the game in the
best interest of the players and
the fans,” he said.
“I have great faith inmy colleagues
inwestAsia and across
the continent and I am confident
that wewillwork hand in
hand and in all transparency,”
Prince Ali told the AP by email.
“That is thework ethic thatwe
aspire to. At the same time,we
have to be vigilant and address
anymisconduct.”
Prince Ali said that the ideal
choice for thenextAFCpresident
wouldbe someonewho“runson
a clear platform, who explains
himself and his vision and presents
a program on how he sees
the future of AFC, rather than
running on a political platform
or based on geography.”