Australia slammed for backing Asian football boss’s new term

SYDNEY: Australia’s football body announced its support for the re-election of under-fire Asian soccer chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa on Monday, drawing criticism from a prominent campaigner who called it “sickening”. Football Federation Australia said it was backing the Bahraini royal’s candidacy after discussions with the rest of the 12-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations Football Federation. Sheikh Salman, FIFA’s number two, was strongly criticised over the case of refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, whose detention in Thailand and threat of extradition to Bahrain caused an international outcry. “It was the consensus view of all of ASEAN that Sheikh Salman is the best credentialed candidate to continue to lead the development of football both in ASEAN and in Asia more broadly,” FFA chairman Chris Nikou said in a statement.