Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Asian football chief's new term triggers complaints from campaigners

Asia's football chief and FIFA's second-in-command Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa received a fresh, four-year term on Saturday, drawing criticism from campaigners who said regional soccer was in "crisis" over human rights.

The Bahraini royal, who was standing unopposed, was elected in his absence at the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Kuala Lumpur, which he missed following the death of his mother on Wednesday.


Sheikh Salman was criticised by rights groups this year for his silence over the case of Bahraini refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, who was detained in Thailand and threatened with extradition to Bahrain.

Araibi, who was released following an international outcry, believes he was targeted for claiming Sheikh Salman was involved in a crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011 which included the arrest and alleged torture of footballers.

The former Bahrain FA chief has long refuted the accusation, which was aired when he first came to power at the AFC in a landslide election in 2013.

Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said "Asian football is in a crisis", accusing Sheikh Salman and others of failing to protect human rights.

"Sheikh Salman should commit to uphold and to carry out FIFA's 2017 Human Rights Policy, including in his home country," Worden wrote in a commentary responding to his re-election.

However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Asia was showing unity and "stability" by re-electing Sheikh Salman, who sent a statement apologising for his absence.

The Bahraini pointed to a record commercial deal struck last year, and said it would not have been possible without good governance and reforms to AFC competitions.

"Together, we will grow stronger. Together, Asian football will grow stronger," Sheikh Salman said.

- Arab Spring -

Sheikh Salman now starts a new term lasting until 2023 which also renews his position as world body FIFA's senior vice-president under Infantino.

Unproved allegations have dogged the Bahraini since he was first elected in 2013, replacing Qatari businessman Mohamed bin Hammam who was banned from football for life over corruption.

At the time, he rejected claims of involvement in Bahrain's round-up of protesters following Arab Spring demonstrations in 2011, which included footballers and other athletes.

He also came under fire over accusations that the Olympic Council of Asia, headed by Kuwaiti powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad al-Fatah al-Sabah, had been lobbying voters on his behalf.

This year, Sheikh Salman was criticised for not publicly supporting Araibi. The AFC said he stayed out of the matter to avoid accusations of a conflict of interest, and that it played a key role behind the scenes.

Former Australia international Craig Foster, who campaigned for Hakeem's release, said the re-election "serves to demonstrate that the level of governance of world football remains as unrepresentative and unaccountable as ever".

"Asian football is presided over by a person who failed to protect a player’s human rights," Foster told AFP.

Sheikh Salman was also re-elected unopposed in 2015, but he had looked set to face a challenge this time around when Qatar's Saoud al-Mohannadi and Mohammed Khalfan Al-Romaithi of UAE announced their candidacies.

However, Romaithi abruptly cancelled a lobbying tour and withdrew in late March -- about two weeks after launching his campaign -- and Mohannadi followed suit last week.

Mohannadi was among five delegates who won a seat on the powerful FIFA Council, while also retaining his position as an AFC vice-president.

Among other election results, China's Du Zhaocai and Praful Patel of India were also voted onto the FIFA Council, and Australia's Chris Nikou earned a place on the AFC executive committee.

More For You

martha-jane-cannary

Amber Heard embraces a new identity as she steps away from the Hollywood spotlight

Getty Images

Did Amber Heard change her name to escape Hollywood for good?

Amber Heard has left her Hollywood life behind, embracing a fresh start in Spain under a new identity—Martha Jane Cannary. This transformation comes after years of intense public scrutiny, particularly following her highly publicised legal battles with ex-husband Johnny Depp. Now, she seems determined to carve out a new, quieter existence, far from the relentless media circus that once defined her life.

But why the name Martha Jane Cannary? The choice is no coincidence. It was the real name of Calamity Jane, the legendary frontierswoman known for her defiant spirit, independence, and refusal to conform to societal norms. Some speculate that Heard sees herself as a modern-day version of this rebellious figure, someone who has faced public trials and emerged on her own terms. Others believe the name change is a strategic move, allowing her to detach from her past and reinvent herself in a more private setting. Either way, it seems like a conscious effort to shed her former identity and embrace a new chapter.

Keep ReadingShow less
From heirlooms to high fashion : India's top 5 jewellery icons shaping global luxury

Celebrating the Masters Who Are Shaping India’s Jewellery Legacy on the Global Stage

India’s top 5 jewellery icons redefining high fashion and global luxury in 2025

There was a time when Indian jewellery was synonymous with heritage—something passed down through generations, worn at weddings, and locked away in velvet-lined boxes. Today, it’s a global phenomenon, dazzling on the world’s biggest fashion runways, red carpets, and luxury storefronts. From Manhattan’s high-fashion districts to Middle Eastern opulence, Indian jewellery designers are no longer confined to the subcontinent’s glittering bazaars. They are redefining luxury, one exquisite creation at a time. Their journey is not just about adornment; it’s a celebration of India’s rich heritage but reimagined for the world.

Indian jewellery, redefining global luxuryGetty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Boishakhi Mela 2025

A burst of colour, culture, and celebration lighting up Brick Lane for Pohela Boishakh

iStock

Boishakhi Mela 2025: London’s biggest Bengali extravaganza you can't miss!

If you happen to be in London’s Brick Lane this April 14, get ready because you’re about to step into a world where colours dance, music electrifies, and the aroma of sizzling street food wraps around you like a warm cosy embrace. The Boishakhi Mela, Europe’s largest Bengali festival, is back, and this year, it’s pulling out all the stops.


Keep ReadingShow less
Champions Trophy

The tournament, considered the second most significant in one-day cricket after the World Cup, will run until 9 March. (Photo: Getty Images)

Champions Trophy to begin after India-Pakistan standoff

THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY starts on Wednesday, following a build-up marked by a venue split between Pakistan and the UAE and calls for England to boycott their match against Afghanistan.

The tournament, considered the second most significant in one-day cricket after the World Cup, will run until 9 March.

Keep ReadingShow less
Are men secretly the more romantic gender? The surprising truth about emotional needs!

Men’s emotional depth in romance: A closer look at the unseen side of love and emotional connection

Getty Images

Are men secretly the more romantic gender? The surprising truth about emotional needs!

When we think of romance, it's easy to picture women swooning over love letters, roses, and candlelit dinners. Pop culture has long painted women as the more emotional and romantic gender, while men are often depicted as more stoic or indifferent. But what if this narrative is turned upside down? Recent research suggests that men might actually be the more romantic sex, not in how they express it, but in how deeply they value and depend on romantic relationships.

But let me tell you, the idea that men are more romantic than women isn't all about grand gestures or dreamy poetic declarations. It's about the emotional weight men place on romantic partnerships. Studies show that men tend to seek out and stay in steady relationships, not just for companionship, but for emotional survival. Unlike women, who often have a broad support system outside of romance that includes friends, family, and colleagues, men tend to rely heavily on their partners for emotional intimacy and support.

Keep ReadingShow less