Zhang vows to lift Asian football´s image

Acting Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Zhang Jilong has pledged to help restore the game’s reputation in the region.

Zhang stepped into the interim role as president after incumbent Mohamed Bin Hammam was given a life ban by FIFA following allegations of bribery and corruption.

Football administrators all over the world are under pressure to clean up the sport, and at a meeting of the AFC Executive committee on Friday, Zhang said it was their duty to restore the public’s faith.

“Today I will speak to you from the heart. Today I will address you not only as the Acting President of AFC and the Chairman of this Executive Committee but also as a very concerned fan and supporter of Asian football,” Jilong said.

“Football is the number one sport in Asia. It is followed by millions of people and today everybody is looking to us for leadership and assurance.”

“Our fans and sponsors want to be reassured that Asian football will not be affected by this great misfortune, and that the ‘Future is indeed Asia’.”

“This is the time to show the world that Asian football is united and will weather this storm. The AFC Statutes will be my guide.”

Following his opening address, Zhang was unanimously nominated to sit at Asia’s vacant seat on the FIFA Executive Committee, and will remain interim AFC president for up to 12 months before an Extraordinary Congress can elect a permanent successor.

Bin Hammam received a life ban from any football-related activity by FIFA’s ethics committee last week after being initially suspended on May 29.

It was alleged he tried to bribe Caribbean Football Union officials for their votes in the FIFA presidential election, which he was contesting against incumbent Sepp Blatter.