SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Having successfully navigated Qatar’s unlikely bid to land the right to host the World Cup, ambitious if somewhat anonymous lawyer Hassan Al Thawadi now wants a seat on FIFA’s powerful executive committee.

The 34-year-old Qatari acknowledges his first task is to make introductions as he heads into an AFC election against the experienced Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, whom he describes as a ‘dear friend’.

SINGAPORE, April 1 (Reuters) – Having successfully navigated Qatar’s unlikely bid to land the right to host the World Cup, ambitious if somewhat anonymous lawyer Hassan Al Thawadi now wants a seat on FIFA’s powerful executive committee.

The 34-year-old Qatari acknowledges his first task is to make introductions as he heads into an AFC election against the experienced Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, whom he describes as a ‘dear friend’.

By Patrick Johnston

(Reuters) – Jordan again showed their appetite for an upset to put Japan’s World Cup party on hold and Australian anxiety increased after a home draw with Oman on a dramatic qualifying night in Asia on Tuesday.

South Korea left it very late in Seoul before overcoming stubborn Qatar 2-1 to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack in Group A and leaders Uzbekistan beat Lebanon 1-0.

March 26 (Reuters) – Jordan again showed their appetite for an upset to put Japan’s World Cup party on hold and Australian anxiety increased after a home draw with Oman on a dramatic qualifying night in Asia on Tuesday.

South Korea left it very late in Seoul before overcoming stubborn Qatar 2-1 to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack in Group A and leaders Uzbekistan beat Lebanon 1-0.

By Patrick Johnston

(Reuters) – Asian champions Japan can become the first side to qualify for the 2014 World Cup with victory in Jordan on Tuesday, while South Korea, Australia and Uzbekistan are odds on to score home wins and clarify the crowded pool picture.

The Blue Samurai thrashed Jordan 6-0 at home in June, a result that has helped them establish an eight point lead over Australia, Iraq and Oman in Group B.

By Patrick Johnston

(Reuters) – Asian champions Japan can become the first side to qualify for the 2014 World Cup with victory in Jordan on Tuesday, while South Korea, Australia and Uzbekistan are odds on to score home wins and clarify the crowded pool picture.

The Blue Samurai thrashed Jordan 6-0 at home in June, a result that has helped them establish an eight point lead over Australia, Iraq and Oman in Group B.

March 22 (Reuters) – Substitute Yu Dabao scored in stoppage time to give China a 1-0 win over 10-man Iraq and their first points in 2015 Asian Cup qualifying on Friday, while neighbours Hong Kong celebrated a rare success by edging Vietnam.

The victory in the driving rain at the Helong Sports Centre, where huge puddles prevented the ball from moving across the pitch, eased the pressure on China’s underfire Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho.

By Patrick Johnston

(Reuters) – Asian football was left reeling from another matchfixing scandal on Wednesday, with the AFC investigating a report from Lebanon where 24 players have been sanctioned following allegations that international and regional games were rigged.

The Lebanese Football Federation on Tuesday announced the punishments, including lifetime bans for Malaysian-based defender Ramez Dayoub and Indonesian-based forward Mahmoud El-Ali, which centre on international fixtures and AFC Cup matches, the second tier regional club tournament.

Feb 27 (Reuters) – Asian soccer was left reeling from another matchfixing scandal on Wednesday, with the AFC investigating a report from Lebanon where 24 players have been sanctioned following allegations that international and regional games were rigged.

The Lebanese Football Federation on Tuesday announced the punishments, including lifetime bans for Malaysian-based defender Ramez Dayoub and Indonesian-based forward Mahmoud El-Ali, which centre on international fixtures and AFC Cup matches, the second tier regional club tournament.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The political turf war between the Asian Tour and rival OneAsia has created a messy environment that has ruled out the involvement of global golf sponsor HSBC, the bank’s head of sponsorship Giles Morgan told Reuters.

The two golf circuits have been at loggerheads since OneAsia’s inception in 2009 with tournaments swapping hands and the Asian Tour fining their members who competed in their rival’s events.