Looking up for Sheikh Salman

AFC president Sheikh Salman’s reelection prospects have brightened since he crushed a bid to prevent him changing statutes to assist his nomination.

As a result, Saudi Arabia’s Adel Ezzat has withdrawn his challenge and been replaced by an ally in UAE’s Mohamed Khalfan Matar Saeed Al Romaithi. That in turn prompted a counter challenge from Qatar’s Saoud Aziz Al Mohannadi.

The most likely outcome is that these two will split the Arab vote and ease Sheikh Salman back into the AFC leadership and FIFA vice-presidency.

This is handy for Sheikh Salman since influential supporter Sheikh Ahmad bin Fahad al Sabah from Kuwait is occupied in fending off an ethics investigation by the International Olympic Committee.