Bahrain Mirror: Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa will govern Asian football for another four years after his final challenger for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presidency withdrew his candidacy on Thursday.

Salman's winning comes despite human rights organization demands not to elect him due to his negative role in the arrest case of Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi in Thailand.

Al-Jazeera website said that that Qatari candidate Al-Mohannadi announced support to keep Salman in office. Meanwhile, the third candidate, Mohamed Khalfan Al-Romaithi from the United Arab Emirates, had already dropped out of the running last Thursday. Thus, the Bahraini man makes sure he continues by acclamation before the meeting of the federation's General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur on 6 April.

"I, personally, and the Qatar Football Association, will continue to support Sheikh Salman in the role of AFC president," Al-Mohannadi said, adding that "We are fully confident he will guide Asia as one unit in all forthcoming matters."

The new four-year term will extend Sheikh Salman's reign at the AFC to 2023, with the Bahraini royal first claiming the post in 2013 following Mohammed bin Hammam's ban from all football activities by FIFA.

Human rights organizations accuse Salman bin Ebrahim of being involved in a security campaign against Bahraini athletes after clamping down on popular uprising in 2011.

Arabic Version