DOHA // Jordan's Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein was elected as a FIFA vice president on Thursday, beating incumbent Chung Mong-joon in an election that further bolsters the power of football in the Middle East.
Just weeks after Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup, delegates at the 45-nation Asian Football Confederation congress voted 25-20 to back Prince Ali, a result that brought cheers and shouts of "Allahu Akbar" - or "God is great." The vote was another blow for South Korea, which was also a bidder for the 2022 World Cup, and likes ends Chung's chances of challenging Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency in June.
Blatter attended the congress in Doha ahead of the Asian Cup which opens Friday, and called on delegates to support his candidacy.
Ahead of the vote at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha, the 35-year-old Prince Ali successfully unified Arab support behind his bid, arguing that he would unify Asia and bring fresh energy to the post.
"I want to introduce a new work ethic in Asian football," he said. "I want to energize this position in a way that serves all our needs. I promise that if we win we will continue to unite Asian football in the future."
Chung, who had served in the position for 16 years, argued that he was best positioned to lead Asian football into the future, including building up the women's game and improving infrastructure as part of his efforts "to bring football closer to the people".
But in the end, Chung suffered from his troubled relationship with AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam who ran unopposed and was re-elected to a third and final term. He was also seen as a threat to Blatter, who many say can now count on a smooth re-election.
Ali led the Jordan Football Association since 1999, and the following year founded the West Asian Football Federation which includes Qatar, Iran, Iraq and Palestine.
The AFC congress, on the eve of the 16-nation Asian Cup competition, is a timely showcase confirming gas-rich Qatar as a major player on the world football stage, despite a playing ranking of No. 114.
Asia sends four delegates to FIFA's ruling executive committee. Along with bin Hammam and Ali, Thailand's Worawi Makudi and Vernon Manilal Fernando of Sri Lanka were elected for those posts. Worawi was the incumbent for one seat, while the other was vacated by Junji Ogura of Japan, who is 72 and barred by AFC age rules from standing.
They beat out China's Zhang Jilong and Kohzo Tashima of Japan.
The winners will be installed at the FIFA Congress scheduled from May 31 to June 1.
