An Arab contender has announced his intention to run against longtime FIFA President Sepp Blatter, but it appears he won’t have much support from the Gulf.
In several tweets on Tuesday, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, a FIFA vice-president, said that he was running for the top spot to bring about change:
I am seeking the presidency of FIFA because I believe it is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport.
— Ali Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) January 6, 2015
The world’s game deserves a world-class governing body — a service organisation and a model of ethics, transparency and good governance.
— Ali Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) January 6, 2015
The headlines should be about football, the beautiful sport, not about FIFA.
— Ali Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) January 6, 2015
Though Prince Ali has the support of many football organizations in Europe who are fed up with FIFA’s leadership, officials in Qatar and the rest of the GCC have said they will remain loyal to Blatter.
In an interview in Brazil yesterday, QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani said there was a consensus among the Asian confederation to support the 78-year-old Swiss official.
“I want to stress the strong relationship with Prince Ali, but reiterate that there is a question mark over nominating (him). We as QFA and through the AFC, emphasize our support for Blatter’s continuity,” Al Thani said, according to a transcript of the interview on QFA’s Facebook page.
Also yesterday, influential Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah threw his support behind Blatter. Media reports quoted the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president as saying of the 39-year-old Prince Ali:
“If he takes my advice, I think it is too early for him. I was speaking for Kuwait. We will support Blatter very strongly and we will not allow anyone to challenge him.”
Keeping the World Cup
Speaking to Doha News, MidEast Soccer’s James Dorsey said several Arab countries are backing Blatter for political reasons.
FIFA’s current president, for example, has been a longtime champion of Qatar’s right to host the 2022 World Cup, he said:
“One would assume that QFA wouldn’t want to turn on Blatter at a time that they need him in Qatar’s battle to keep its World Cup hosting rights. Qatar will not be the only Middle Eastern association that is likely to vote for Blatter rather than one of their own.
Skeikh Ahmed of Kuwait has already said that he won’t allow anyone to undermine Blatter. It’s politics and vested interests – not regional solidarity or what would be best for FIFA – that dictates votes.”
Frenchman Jerome Champagne has also said he will run against Blatter.
Any other contenders must announce their intentions before the end of this month. The elections is scheduled to be held on May 29.
Thoughts?
That’s just fantastic. I suppose Qatar and the GCC are voting against the Arab candidate in yet another demonstration of racism against Arabs in the football world.
Why do you have to bring racism into this ? -_-
because MIMH doesn’t understand politics and likes to be the first commenter, usually at the cost of saying something thought out
Do you not see the hypocrisy?
Monkeys don’t get hypocrisy, they are trained to think in a certain way that benefits their master….
Oo oo aa aa
It was a joke. Qatar and some other gulf Nations complained the attacks on Qatar due to the WC were because of racism against Arabs.
I find it funny when one of their own stands for the top job they will not support him. Arab unity indeed.
Exactly. LOL
He won’t leave and we still have 2022 😛
Has nothing to do with unity. They know if Blatter leaves, their 2022 dreams will leave with him, mainly because the corruption that will be revealed, which will cause things to change. Amazing how this world works… simply amazing…
Yep…..
Only natural to prefer to maintain stability ahead of a planned world cup that many want to see relocated
Maybe Blatter has bought the QFA votes with their own money !!!
I find this offensive and it is make the presumptions which hurts my feelings
Oh well, life is tough like that 😉
They just will not let the old man go as if he goes they and the rest will have to go along with him to make way for new guys to warm the chairs at FIFA
Sheikh Ahmed of Kuwait has already said that he won’t allow anyone to undermine Blatter. “It’s politics and vested interests – not regional solidarity or what would be best for FIFA – that dictates votes.” A quote that will make all true football fans throughout the world uncontrollably vomit.
If he takes my advice, “I think it is too early for him.”
He meant to say: If he takes my advice, “He needs to be more corrupt to apply.”
But of course! When you bribe someone for an event to happen in a few years to come, you obviously want them to stay in power until that time! This is called bribery 101 !
Blatter will never leave FIFA unless if it is in a nice expensive coffin.
So Caucasians are supporting Arabs and Arabs are supporting Caucasians…and the world says we can’t get along. Just don’t draw caricatures of Blatter…who knows who might get offended.