Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa was re-elected on Wednesday as President of the Asian Football Confederation by acclamation for a third term until 2027 during the 33rd General Assembly held in Bahrain’s capital Manama. Bin Ibrahim (57) said: “I would like to thank everyone you for trusting me.” Another four year term. It is a great honor for me to enlist the trust of the AFC, and this places a great responsibility on me. Asian football has entered a new era”, praising the hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup by Qatar.
Swiss Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), congratulated Ben Ibrahim, who automatically became his deputy, and praised the development of Asian football and the World Cup in Qatar. In this regard, he said: “Once again, congratulations to Qatar, the countries of the Middle East, the countries of the Persian Gulf, Asia and the whole world for making us experience such wonderful feelings. The Men’s World Cup in Qatar was the best World Cup in history. it’s hard to reach that level.”
Bin Ibrahim was elected president in 2013 to complete the remaining two years of former Qatari President Mohammed bin Hammam’s term.
In 2013, the Bahraini easily defeated former UAE Federation President Youssef Al-Sarkal and was re-elected by acclamation in 2015 to a four-year term. Emirate Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaiti and Qatari Saud Al Mohannadi were expected to compete in 2019 before they announced their withdrawal. Notably, Ben Brahim lost the race for President of the International Infantino Federation on February 26, 2016 with a score of 115-88 votes.