Among the voices calling for change were influential football nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, eager to establish their dominance on the continent's stage. Nevertheless, disagreements persisted as only Australia and Jordan remained steadfast in their opposition to comprehensive reforms.
At the helm of this transformative agenda stood AFC President Sheikh Salman B Ibrahim Al Khalifa, a man whose tenure was now free from the shackles of regional boundaries. He seized the opportunity to expand his leadership beyond previously set boundaries, already eyeing re-election in 2027 after serving 14 years in office.
However, a legal hurdle still remains for Sheikh Salman at FIFA.A member of the Bahraini royal family informed AFC members before the vote that the AFC aspires to become "a model confederation" in world football, in line with FIFA.
The decision to remove term limits was not without controversy, bringing back painful memories of past scandals that tarnished the reputation of Asian football. From bribery allegations against Mohammed bin Hammam to revelations of corruption in top AFC positions, the road to reform was fraught with challenges.
FIFA has implemented two rounds of governance reforms, including the removal of presidential sanctions, in response to bribery and corruption scandals in 2011 and 2015, all of which involved Asian football. After Brown found $40,000 in cash in an envelope at a campaign meeting in Trinidad, he was disqualified from the 2011 FIFA presidency competition.Guam senior AFC official Richard Lai entered a guilty plea in a federal court in Brooklyn as part of a bribery operation that increased power in international soccer, two years later as a result of a 2015 incident that, according to Lai, was It was controlled by a group in Kuwait that helped Sheikh Salman succeed Bin Hammam in 2013.
The AFC has redoubled its commitment to ethical standards and administrative practices. In a bold statement, he announced his intention to lead by example by setting an example for future generations of football administrators. However, beyond the scope of the AFC, this decision echoes across the global football landscape. With FIFA and UEFA facing their own governance dilemmas, the AFC's move sent a clear message – a message of defiance against the constraints of tenure limits and a reaffirmation of authority.AFC member associations also elected two new members to the AFC Executive Committee for the remaining term from 2023 to 2027.
Tajikistan's Mijgona Mahmadalieva was elected as the Women's AFC Executive Committee member for the Central Zone, while Korea Republic's Chung Mong Gyu was elected as the AFC Executive Committee member for the East Zone. Two new AFC Executive Committee members Congratulating, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: "On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to congratulate Mizgona Mahmadalieva and Chung Mong Gyu on their successful election to the AFC Executive Committee and we will see." Look forward to his invaluable contribution in the coming years.”
Additionally, the Congress also approved proposals that were received from a number of Member Associations to amend/delete (as appropriate) Articles 32.8 and 32.9 of the AFC Statutes as well as one of the temporary provisions.Sheikh Salman said: “The AFC has made incredible progress in the area of good governance, and our member associations and regional associations should be thanked for their steadfast dedication to building on the strong foundation we have built together over the last decade.
At the helm of this transformative agenda stood AFC President Sheikh Salman B Ibrahim Al Khalifa, a man whose tenure was now free from the shackles of regional boundaries. He seized the opportunity to expand his leadership beyond previously set boundaries, already eyeing re-election in 2027 after serving 14 years in office.
However, a legal hurdle still remains for Sheikh Salman at FIFA.A member of the Bahraini royal family informed AFC members before the vote that the AFC aspires to become "a model confederation" in world football, in line with FIFA.
The decision to remove term limits was not without controversy, bringing back painful memories of past scandals that tarnished the reputation of Asian football. From bribery allegations against Mohammed bin Hammam to revelations of corruption in top AFC positions, the road to reform was fraught with challenges.
FIFA has implemented two rounds of governance reforms, including the removal of presidential sanctions, in response to bribery and corruption scandals in 2011 and 2015, all of which involved Asian football. After Brown found $40,000 in cash in an envelope at a campaign meeting in Trinidad, he was disqualified from the 2011 FIFA presidency competition.Guam senior AFC official Richard Lai entered a guilty plea in a federal court in Brooklyn as part of a bribery operation that increased power in international soccer, two years later as a result of a 2015 incident that, according to Lai, was It was controlled by a group in Kuwait that helped Sheikh Salman succeed Bin Hammam in 2013.
The AFC has redoubled its commitment to ethical standards and administrative practices. In a bold statement, he announced his intention to lead by example by setting an example for future generations of football administrators. However, beyond the scope of the AFC, this decision echoes across the global football landscape. With FIFA and UEFA facing their own governance dilemmas, the AFC's move sent a clear message – a message of defiance against the constraints of tenure limits and a reaffirmation of authority.AFC member associations also elected two new members to the AFC Executive Committee for the remaining term from 2023 to 2027.
Tajikistan's Mijgona Mahmadalieva was elected as the Women's AFC Executive Committee member for the Central Zone, while Korea Republic's Chung Mong Gyu was elected as the AFC Executive Committee member for the East Zone. Two new AFC Executive Committee members Congratulating, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: "On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to congratulate Mizgona Mahmadalieva and Chung Mong Gyu on their successful election to the AFC Executive Committee and we will see." Look forward to his invaluable contribution in the coming years.”
Additionally, the Congress also approved proposals that were received from a number of Member Associations to amend/delete (as appropriate) Articles 32.8 and 32.9 of the AFC Statutes as well as one of the temporary provisions.Sheikh Salman said: “The AFC has made incredible progress in the area of good governance, and our member associations and regional associations should be thanked for their steadfast dedication to building on the strong foundation we have built together over the last decade.
