Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President, has thanked HM Al Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah for his service to football in Asia after he announced his resignation as member of the FIFA Council and also the AFC Executive Committee.
HM Sultan Abdullah’s decision to step down comes following his accession as the 16th King of Malaysia. He was seen as an inspirational figure in Malaysian and Asian football and Shaikh Salman praised his dedication to grow the sport in the Continent.
The AFC President said: “On behalf of the whole Asian football family, I would like to place on record my deep appreciation and gratitude for Your Majesty’s worthy contributions and commitment towards football in our great Continent over the last decades.
“The AFC will profoundly miss your presence and support. I personally will always cherish your tireless efforts towards developing the professional administration and promotion of the game.
“I wish you the very best in fulfilling your most important duties and I am confident that Malaysia and its people will continue to see further development and progress under your supervision and guidance.”
HM Sultan Abdullah is popularly known for his passion and leadership in football where he was a former vice-president of the AFC and has held several other positions in the AFC, including Chairman of the Organising Committee for the AFC Asian Cup 2015 and Chairman of the AFC Development Committee. Most recently he chaired the AFC Governance Task Force.
He was also the President of the Football Association of Malaysia from 2014 to 2017.