Craig Foster slams FFA support for AFC president Sheik Salman

Craig Foster has slammed Football Federation Australia’s decision to support the re-election of AFC president Sheik Salman.

Sheik Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa is seeking re-election as AFC president.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster has slammed Football Federation Australia’s decision to support the re-election of Asian Football Confederation resident Sheik Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, despite his links to the Hakeem Al-Araibi affair.

FFA chairman Chris Nikou issued a statement late yesterday confirming it will join with fellow ASEAN Football Federation nations in backing of Sheik Salman, a member of Bahrain’s royal family, who is standing for another term at the AFC elections in Malaysia on April 6.

Sheik Salman came under fire for not using his influence as AFC president to do more to help Araibi, a Bahraini refugee who was imprisoned in Thailand earlier this year. Foster, who led a huge campaign to free Araibi, described the FFA decision to support Sheik Salman as “a mockery”.

In making the decision, which has to be ratified by his board, Nikou said he acknowledged that the “recent events involving Australian refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi had caused some concern regarding the role of the AFC’’.

“During this time, we were in regular dialogue with the AFC, FIFA and the Australian Government to ensure appropriate steps were taken to support efforts for Hakeem’s release and we did this privately by lobbying those in positions of influence and ultimately, through the work of many, the right outcome was achieved,” Nikou said.

Araibi made world headlines when he was imprisoned in Thailand while on his honeymoon in January. He had been granted asylum in Australia when he fled Bahrain after speaking out over the persecution and torture of other footballers. He was also accused of attacking a police station.

Speaking to theworldgame website, Foster said he could not fathom the decision.

“That Australia could even contemplate voting for such a candidate makes a mockery of any discussion of fundamental values within the game,” Foster said. “The conduct of Salman during the incarceration of Hakeem was unconscionable.”

Sports journalist and former broadcaster Francis Leach posted his disgust via social media: “That @FFA felt it had no option than to acquiesce and support Shaikh Salman as @theafcdotcom President is an abrogation of any claims to moral leadership or good citizenry. Deeply depressing. Outrageously gutless. Utterly predictable.”

In explaining the decision Nikou, who attended the AFF Congress in Cambodia last week, said the overriding view is that Salman had presided over many significant initiatives within the AFC.

“It was the consensus view of all of ASEAN that Shaikh Salman is the best credentialed candidate to continue to lead the development of football both in ASEAN and in Asia more broadly,” he said in a statement.