BAHRAIN Football Association (BFA) president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa is contesting for a seat on Fifa's executive committee.
This was confirmed yesterday by BFA general secretary Ahmed Jassim.
Shaikh Salman is up against Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohammed bin Hammam for the prestigious post, which the Qatari national currently occupies.
Former top AFC official Peter Velappan yesterday voiced his support for Shaikh Salman.
"I welcome Shaikh Salman to contest against Bin Hammam in May when his term expires," Velappan told AFP.
"I would like to see a change in the leadership. If Bin Hammam loses, he should quit his post as AFC president as it signals a vote of no confidence against him as AFC president," he added.
The contest for the Fifa post will be held on May 8 during the AFC congress in Malaysia. However, Bin Hammam's tenure as AFC president only ends in 2011.
The AFC yesterday held its executive committee meeting, chaired by bin Hammam. Officials said they would issue a statement later on the meeting.
The New Straits Times newspaper reported that the BFA had nominated Shaikh Salman for the Fifa seat.
"Some quarters are interpreting this as the first step towards mounting a challenge against the Qatari for the top post (in the AFC)", it said.
The newspaper said that "judging from the support expressed, Shaikh Salman has a decent chance of winning the coveted (Fifa) seat."
The report said Japan's Junji Ogura, also a Fifa executive committee member and Japan FA vice-president, has backed Shaikh Salman along with affiliates from West Asia, Southeast Asia and central and east Asia.
"I personally feel he is the person who can take Asia forward," Ogura said.
Velappan, who served as AFC secretary-general for 30 years, has previously attacked Bin Hammam for his push to shift the governing body's headquarters out of Malaysia.
"The AFC is now at crossroads. The AFC family which was in peace and solidarity, is now fragmented due to Bin Hammam's leadership style of divide and rule," Velappan said.
"The fact that he has caused so much division in the AFC family is a clear indication that a leadership change is necessary."
Velappan described Shaikh Salman as a "very sensible and fair official, who will be able to consolidate the spirit and solidarity of the AFC family."
Velappan last November urged AFC members not to re-elect bin Hammam for another term in 2011.
"The AFC should not be subject to the whims and fancies of a leader who is lacking the sensitivities of Asian football. I would like to see bin Hammam challenged," he said.
Shaikh Salman is currently the vice-chairman of the Fifa disciplinary committee, and chairman of the AFC disciplinary committee.
