FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan has complained to world football's governing body "about an agreement signed between the African and Asian confederations, believing it may breach election rules," according to Patrick Johnston of REUTERS. Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou signed a "co-operation agreement" in Rwanda on Friday.
Sheikh Salman, South African politician and businessman Tokyo Sexwale and Prince Ali "are among five candidates standing in the election, with the Jordanian fearing vote deals had been struck between the two confederations who will have a combined 100 votes in the 209-member poll."
Prince Ali said, "The timing of this MOU (memorandum of understanding) between the AFC and the CAF looks like a blatant attempt to engineer a bloc vote" (REUTERS, 1/16). The AFP reported Sheikh Salman dismissed accusations of underhand electioneering leveled at him by one of his FIFA presidential rivals as "entirely inaccurate." He "strongly refuted any notion of a backroom deal with Africa." Sheikh Salman:
"I am astonished about my friend’s comments, which are wholly dismissed and entirely inaccurate" (AFP, 1/17).
SIDELINED: The AFP also reported none of Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane's four sons "started for their respective sides with the club's academy this weekend amid confusion over their status after FIFA handed the club a one-year transfer ban.
"
The club "admitted on Thursday two of Zidane's sons had been among 39 players FIFA had investigated."
Zidane said, "It seems absurd because they have lived their whole lives here in Madrid with family and it will be fixed" (AFP, 1/17).
