GENEVA (AP) — The Asian Football Confederation may soon remove term limits for its president and other elected officials, continuing a trend among international sports bodies to loosen anti-corruption rules and keep leaders in place. ing.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia are among the four AFC members to propose removing term limits when the Asian Football Association meets in Bangkok next month ahead of the FIFA General Assembly on May 17. The proposal, seen by The Associated Press, asks AFC member states: The federation called for “the removal of term limits imposed on AFC executive committee members and presidents.”
This leaves AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain) with a path to retain the job and the FIFA vice-president status it brings after his current term ends in 2027. It will be opened.
Sheikh Salman was first elected in 2013 to complete the term vacated by Qatar's Mohammed bin Hammam, who was implicated in bribing FIFA voters. He is currently serving his third four-year term, the longest term according to the AFC's current regulations.
AFC, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, did not respond to questions about the proposal sent by The Associated Press on Monday.
presidential term limits And senior officials are seen as playing a key role in reining in power factions and patronage in international sport.
However, Asian soccer organizations European counterpart UEFA and International Olympic Committee In recent months, the leader has sought to expand his hold on power as time passes following the infamous scandal.
The AFC's proposal would allow senior officials to seek re-election without restriction.
However, FIFA rules state that Sheikh Salman must step down as vice president of the global governing body in 2031.
FIFA Terms Limiting the terms of governing council members, including vice presidents like Sheikh Salman, to a maximum of three four-year terms starting in 2019.
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