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.

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

A sports website reported that the official from the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Khalfan Al-Romaithi, was on the verge of pulling out on Sunday (March 17) after he withdrew funding for his bid following the decision by the 12 members of the ASEAN Football Federation, including Australia, to publicly back Sheikh Salman.

Football player Hakeem Al-Araibi condemned Australia's support for the re-election of Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster has described as "sickening" the support of Australia for the re-election of Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa.

Australia’s meaning to Bahrainis has changed forever, and of course in the heart of Hakeem Al-Araibi, who said upon his return "I will be strong for Australia. I love Australia. It is my country".

The Australian captain Craig Foster criticized FIFA's response on Hakeem Al-Araibi case.

The case of Bahraini football player Hakeem Al-Araibi, who is held in Thailand, caused the Government of Bahrain a severe headache.

Thailand's government should immediately release the refugee football player Hakeem Al-Araibi and let him return to his wife and team in Australia, Human Rights Watch said yesterday in announcing a campaign for his freedom.

The Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (GIDHR) issued a statement saying that Hakeem Al-Araibi is one step away from being handed over to Bahrain which he fled.

Activists have called for Asia's football chief, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, to resign after the body admitted for the first time that the Bahraini royal family member has a "conflict of interest" in regard to his jailed compatriot, Hakeem Al-Araibi, South China Morning Post newspaper reported.

Australian football player and analyst Craig Foster said that he demanded a meeting with FIFA administration on Monday.

Australian football player Craig Foster said in a tweet that "Day [yesterday] 38 of detention for Hakeem Al-Araibi," urging to write to president of FIFA, president of Asian Football Confederation, Prime Minister of Thailand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Prime Minister of Australia and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia to support Al-Araibi's case.

The Bahraini FIFA presidential candidate, Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, lost to the Swiss Gianni Infantino in the FIFA elections that took place in the Switzerland’s Zurich on Friday (February 27, 2016).

As the organization that governs global soccer gathers this week to choose a new president, a leading contender risks stirring up another source of controversy for the sport: human rights, reports the New York Times.

Bahrain Mirror (Reuters): British Member of Parliament Damian Collins used parliamentary privilege on Tuesday to accuse FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of taking development project funds to finance an election bid.

Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): Days after the English Football Association criticized Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa's candidacy, the German Football Association announced that it will not vote for Salman over involvement in violating human rights of athletes in 2011.

Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): The German Bild newspaper mocked the Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim's announcement to run for FIFA presidency, over suspicions of his involvement in the torture of a number of athletes in a campaign launched by the Bahraini regime against protestors in 2011.

Bahrain Mirror: The executive director of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, said to the IBT (International Business Times) that “Fifa will sink even lower than its nadir under Blatter if it elects Salman.”