Plot to oust ´dictator´ Bin Hammam gains momentum

Moves to oust embattled Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hammam are gaining momentum with his key challenger insisting support for his “autocratic” rule is rapidly waning.

Bahrain’s Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa will pit himself against Bin Hammam for his FIFA executive committee seat on May 8 after several recent moves by the Qatari upset powerful factions of the regional football body.

“I know president Bin Hammam very well. We all supported him in the beginning but I think that vote of trust we gave him, I am very sorry to say, we have created a dictator,” Shaikh Salman said in comments emailed to AFP.

“He is not for all but for himself. We think there is a line that has been drawn and this line has been crossed. His autocratic decisions have divided Asian football.”

Asia has four seats on the FIFA executive committee — South Korea’s Chung Mong-Joon as vice president, Japan’s Junji Ogura from East Asia, Thailand’s Worawi Makudi from Southeast Asia, and Bin Hammam.

The Qatari’s is the only position up for election.

While Bin Hammam’s presidency of the AFC does not expire until 2011, he has indicated that if he loses his long-held FIFA seat then he will also quit as AFC chief.

Shaikh Salman claims not to be interested in the powerful AFC post, only the FIFA position.

“Whether he stays as AFC president or doesn’t stay does not matter to me,” he said. “I have no intention of running for AFC president.”

Several key Bin Hammam proposals have proved controversial.

They include his plan to move the AFC headquarters out of Malaysia, a proposed 12-year marketing deal with World Sport Group and amendments to the AFC statutes that would consolidate his power.

While the challenge is coming from Bahrain, it is crucially supported by other heavyweight members including Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

At a meeting last week, Salman said 19 of the AFC’s 46 affiliated football associations pledged their support for him and his campaign slogan, “AFC — Asia For Change”, leaving him just short of a majority.

Informed sources told AFP that in East Asia Shaikh Salman has the support of all the associations except China and North Korea, who remain loyal to Bin Hammam.

Australia is also in the Bin Hammam camp, as are most Central Asian nations except Turkmenistan.

A vote will be held at the AFC Congress on May 8 in Kuala Lumpur and what the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) decide could be crucial.

Bin Hammam has been busy visiting the ASEAN region to shore up support with sources close to the president saying he was confident of having the numbers, with just Malaysia and Cambodia against him.

However, a letter obtained by AFP, dated March 7, indicates the backing may not be as solid as he thinks.

Sent by ASEAN Football Federation president Seri Ahmad Rithauddeen to FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, it indicates potential discontent.

“The AFC, and in particular its leadership, should strictly follow the FIFA Code of Ethics which states that officials shall represent FIFA, the confederations, associations, leagues and clubs honestly, worthily, respectably, and with integrity,” the letter said.

“I urge you to strongly reiterate this message to the AFC, and in particular, to its leadership.”

Bin Hammam was due in Zurich Monday for FIFA meetings.