Saudi Arabia’s Ezzat quits FA in bid for AFC presidency

By Andrew Warshaw

August 20 – The first shots have been fired in the bid to govern Asian football next year with Saudi Football Federation chief Adel Ezzat resigning his domestic post to concentrate on taking over from Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa.

Sheikh Salman, elected unopposed in 2015, has not yet publicly confirmed whether he wants another four years when his term ends in 2019 but Ezzet  has already thrown his name into the ring.

“I presented to (Saudi sports authority chief) Turki Al-Sheikh… my resignation from my position as of today,” Ezzat told a Saudi sports broadcaster at the weekend.  “I will begin preparing… for elections of the Asian Football Confederation, which will be held next year.”

Ezzat’s deputy Nawaf Al-Timyat has been named the Saudi federation’s interim chief until fresh elections are held.

Ezzat is a relative newcomer to football administration having only been Saudi football chief since December 2016,  but has nevertheless shown a lot of international ambition for his short time in football.

He was elected as the first president of the South West Asian Football Federation this year, the new regional bloc of federations comprising 14 nations (excluding Qatar), a grouping that was promoted by the Saudis and is widely recognised as a vehicle for them to widen their political influence.

“It’s well documented that football is poised for significant growth across South and West Asia so we must harness the collective expertise and strengths of the member nations into a united force to seize this opportunity,” Ezzat said. “SWAFF will help provide that focus, complementing the existing support provided by FIFA and the AFC.”

“Football stands poised on the threshold of growth, SWAFF has been established as supporting infrastructure for this growth and Saudi Arabia will grow along with it.”

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711631352labto1711631352ofdlr1711631352owedi1711631352sni@w1711631352ahsra1711631352w.wer1711631352dna1711631352

 


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