Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chair Mr Chris Nikou was today elected as the second ever Australian to serve on the Executive Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Nikou, together with FFA Chief Executive Officer Mr David Gallop AM, was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today to attend the 29th AFC Congress where the quadrennial elections took place.
The AFC Congress, which is held annually and brings together the 47 Member Associations that comprise the AFC, included on the agenda elections for the position of AFC President and positions on the AFC Executive Committee (including the AFC Vice Presidents and Asia's representatives on the FIFA Council).
Nikou was successfully elected with a term of four (4) years.
"I would first like to thank my colleagues across Asia for entrusting me with the responsibility that a position on the AFC Executive Committee entails," Nikou said. "Recognising that responsibility, I am committed to working hard to support the development of the world game across the entire Asian football community."
"Since joining the AFC in 2006, Australia has sought to learn from as well as support our fellow Member Associations in Asia. We have shared knowledge and expertise through serving on various AFC committees, added to the commercial growth of Asian football and delivered a range of development programs across the Confederation. Australia's hosting of the AFC Asian Cup in 2015 also set a new benchmark for Asia's flagship event.
"I am committed to raising even further Australia's engagement with Asia, and my new position on the AFC Executive Committee provides an opportunity to continue driving the relationship. Through the Executive Committee, we have an avenue to express Australia's position on different matters, hear matters of priority from other members and work collaboratively with the Asian football community to ensure the vision of the AFC is achieved - that Asia be the world's leading football confederation."
Nikou's election marks the formal conclusion of fellow Australian Moya Dodd's twelve years on the AFC Executive Committee. For a period Dodd served as the organisation's first ever female Vice President.
Dodd said: "I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to serve football and to contribute to issues I am passionate about - especially governance reform, women's football and diversity - at both AFC and at FIFA."
Nikou added: "Across a twelve-year period, Moya has represented Australia with distinction in Asia, especially with regard to making the game more inclusive for women and girls at all levels - from the boardroom to the grassroots. I would like to thank her for her contribution."
Comprised of the AFC President and 24 elected members from the 47 Member Associations that make up the AFC, the AFC Executive Committee is responsible for implementing the AFC's statutes, the decisions of the AFC Congress, as well as ratifying decisions made by AFC's Standing Committees.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the incumbent AFC President, was re-elected unopposed for a further four-year term as AFC President at the Congress following the withdrawal of the two other candidates prior to the election - Saoud Al-Mohannadi from Qatar and Mohammed Khalfan Al-Romaithi from the UAE.
