DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — China’s Zhang Jilong is set to replace Mohamed bin Hammam as president of the Asian Football Confederation after the Qatari was suspended by FIFA in a bribery probe.
Bin Hammam and Jack Warner, both FIFA senior executives, are barred from all FIFA business pending a full inquiry into allegations that Caribbean soccer leaders were paid $40,000 each to back the Qatari’s now-abandoned presidential bid.
AFC statutes say that if an AFC president “ceases to carry out or is prevented from” performing his duties, then the senior vice president takes over. In this case, that is Zhang.
AFC vice president Yousuf Al Serkal also said it was his understanding that Zhang would take over.
Zhang is also the vice president of the Chinese Football Association.
