9 things about Sheikh Salman

05 February 2016 07:53

The FIFA presidential candidacy of Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa has been supported by the Confederation of African Football.

He is one of five candidates ahead of the February 26 election to find a permanent successor to Sepp Blatter.

Here, we list seven things to know about the 50-year old.

1. As a cousin of the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Sheikh Salman is a member of the Bahrain royal family.

2. He is a Manchester United supporter, and says he would consider using Sir Alex Ferguson in an advisory role should his election campaign succeed. Asked if Ferguson and the Premier League's Richard Scudamore could be potential advisors, he told Sky Sports: "Absolutely. They have the experience and personality. Everyone respects them and the work that they have done but there are other people around the world who will have a similar contribution."

3. One of his passions outside of football is to hunt wild boar.

4. After graduating from university in 1992, Sheikh Salman worked in various executive roles at the Bahrain Football Association (BFA), before becoming president in 2002, lasting until 2013 when he became president of the Asian Football Confederation.

5. He has also served on the disciplinary committees of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.

6. On 2 October 2015, in response to mentions of him as potential presidential candidate, Sheikh Salman dismissed suggestions he was interested in the position. "The thought of being a candidate in 2016 had not crossed my mind," he said. "My obligations today are primarily to Asia."

7. It has been alleged, including by human rights groups, that Sheikh Salman was involved in a crackdown on pro-democracy athletes in Bahrain in 2011. He categorically denies this.

Source: PA