Future AFC presidents to be also FIFA vice-presidents, beginning in 2015

Presidents of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) will also be named vice-presidents of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) beginning with the next elections in 2015, the AFC announced on 10/06/2014.

Separate since 2010, these two roles will be again merged as per a vote by the representatives of 46 national federations (44 votes in favour, 1 against, 1 abstention), at the extraordinary congress of the AFC in Sao Paulo (BRA) on 09/06/2014.

"We have decided that the seat of FIFA vice president should go to the AFC president," said Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain), 48, AFC president since 02/05/2013, of the role merger.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (Jordan), the current vice-president of FIFA elected by the AFC, denounced the "political manoeuvre" in an open letter to the AFC in April 2014. "[The separation of roles] allows the FIFA vice-president to focus on Asian football issues in FIFA, while the AFC president focuses on addressing football challenges in Asia and strengthening football development, which is a very big task,” he said.

Salman…