Left field

Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hamman survived what was effectively a vote of confidence in his leadership at the AFC congress on Friday and immediately called for unity among soccer administrators on the continent.

Although certainly the correct sentiment, he will have his work cut out healing the divisions exposed by the contest if the following selection of quotes from the bitterly fought campaign for the West Asia seat on the FIFA Executive Committee is anything to go by.

- – -

“Some people have launched a campaign against me, maybe they don’t like me, a man from the desert being at the helm. If I don’t retain my FIFA executive membership from the region on May 8, I will quit my position as (AFC) president.”

Bin Hammam (the incumbent)

- – -

“What’s happening is people are fighting for democracy, justice, equality and transparency, and Asian football has seriously lacked this.” 

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain (the challenger).

- – -

“Football is a universal sport based on the fundamental principles of discipline and respect for opponents… and the spirit of competitiveness and rivalry. It is my duty to remind all members of the Asian football community of the importance of these values.”

Sepp Blatter, FIFA president

- – - 

“Sheikh Salman is not doing this on his own, he is doing this at the instruction of others, especially people in the (South) Korean federation.”

Bin Hammam

- – -

Bin Hammam also said he would “cut off the head” of those he believed to be behind a plot to deseat him. He later explained that the phrase was a “harmless Arabic metaphor”.

- – -

“I am afraid that Mr. Hammam may be a sick person who needs to be at a hospital rather than at FIFA. It looks like Mr. Hammam is suffering from mental problems. I want to advise him to consider going to hospital.”

South Korean FIFA Vice President Chung Mong-joon

- – -

“It makes Asian football look amateurish and the people who run it spiteful and childish, It makes headlines for all the wrong reasons and reinforces stereotypes that Asia is full of corruption and bribery. If nothing else, the election shows that the atmosphere in Asia is poisonous at the moment.”

John Duerden, Asia soccer writer for Four Four Two magazine

- -

Pictures of Bin Hammam (left) and Salman (right) by Bazuki Muhammad