Mr. Manilal Fernando

Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar was unanimously confirmed as President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for a second four-year term at the 22nd AFC Congress held here today.

Bin Hammam was the only candidate running for the position, confirmed after the March 8, 2007 deadline for submitting nominations.

The visionary Qatari was first voted to office after the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
“I am immensely grateful for this vote of confidence,” Bin Hammam, who coincidentally celebrates his 58th birthday today, told www.the-afc.com.

“My re-election demonstrates the solidarity in Asia and the confidence among AFC’s Member Associations that AFC is heading in the right direction as far as football development in our continent is concerned,” continued the AFC President.

Bin Hammam pledged to continue his drive to professionalise the game in Asia. “I think we have achieved a lot in the last five years since I first took office. But there is still much needed to be done and it will be my endeavour to see that Asian football is one day recognised as the best in the world. We need to set the highest benchmark possible in terms of professionalism.”

Also re-elected unopposed as AFC Vice-Presidents were Zhang Jilong (China PR), Vernon Manilal Fernando (Sri Lanka), H.R.H Tengku Abdullah Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah (Malaysia). Yousuf Yaqoob Al Serkal of the United Arab Emirates, who was elected for the first time, will be the fourth Vice-President.

Dr Chung Mong-joon of the Korea Republic was re-elected as FIFA Vice-President.

Junji Ogura (Japan) and Dato Worawi Makudi (Thailand) retained their positions as FIFA Executive Committee members.

Positions in the AFC Executive Committee from the four AFC zones were also filled up.

Richard Lai (Guam) was elected unopposed from East Asia while Zaw Zaw (Myanmar), Dali Taher Suryadharma (Indonesia) and John Koh Nam Sang (Singapore) were voted without contest from the ASEAN region.

From the South and Central zone, Ganesh Thapa (Nepal), Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi (India), Bakhtier Rakhimov (Uzbekistan) and Mohsen Safai Farahani (Iran) were elected to the AFC Executive Committee unopposed.

From West Asia, Dr Hafez Al Medlej (Saudi Arabia), Saif Hasil Rashid Al Maskery (Oman) and Hussain Saeed Mohamed (Iraq) will take up their places in the AFC Executive Committee after being elected unopposed.

General Farouk Bouzo of Syria was re-elected as Honorary Treasurer.

THE POSITIONS
AFC President – Mohamed Bin Hammam (Qatar) - uncontested
AFC Vice-Presidents - Zhang Jilong (China PR), Vernon Manilal Fernando (Sri Lanka), H.R.H Tengku Abdullah Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah (Malaysia) and Yousuf Yaqoob Al Serkal (UAE) - uncontested
FIFA Vice-President – Dr Chung Mong-joon (Korea Republic) - uncontested
FIFA Executive Committee - Junji Ogura (Japan) and Dato Worawi Makudi (Thailand) - uncontested

AFC Executive Committee
East Asia – 1. Richard Lai (Guam) - uncontested
ASEAN – 1. Zaw Zaw (Myanmar), 2. Dali Taher Suryadharma (Indonesia), 3. John Koh Nam Sang (Singapore) - uncontested
South and Central Asia - Ganesh Thapa (Nepal), Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi (India), Bakhtier Rakhimov (Uzbekistan) and Mohsen Safai Farahani (Iran)
West Asia - Dr Hafez Al Medlej (Saudi Arabia), Saif Hasil Rashid Al Maskery (Oman) and Hussain Saeed Mohamed (Iraq)
Honorary Treasurer – General Farouk Bouzo (Syria)