Zhang Jian secures his position in FIFA Council

Credit: AFC

On 8th May, 2017, Zhang Jian (China PR), Mahfuza Kiron (Bangladesh), Chung Mong Gyu (Korea Republic) and Mariano V. Araneta Jr. (Philippines) were elected to be the FIFA Council members at the The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) AFC Congress 2017 in Manama, Bahrain. The term of office for all these FIFA Council Members is from 2017 to 2019.

In this election, there were 3 male positions available. With Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah of Kuwait withdrawing from the election, Zhang Jian, Mahfuza Kiron and Chung Mong Gyu secured their position by acclamation. Mariano V. Araneta Jr. secured the single female position by obtaining more votes than another candidate, Moya Dodd (Australia).

Zhang Jian is the Vice-Chairman and General Secretary of the Chinese Football Association (CFA). As reported by People.cn, a news website based on the People’s Daily, Zhang Jian is the second officer from the CFA to get into a senior management position. The first one was Zhang Jilong, former Vice-Chairman of the CFA and Vice President of the AFC. By supporting Zhang Jian in this election, the CFA hopes that Zhang Jian can assist China in bidding for the FIFA World Cup.

Source: Sohu and People.cn

Proofread by Sean O Diobhilin