A senior Qatari football official under investigation by FIFA will not be allowed to stand for executive committee elections this week.
Votes for the newly reformed body were expected to be cast tomorrow in India.
But Qatar Football Association (QFA) Vice Chairman Saoud Al Mohannadi is not eligible, FIFA told the Asian Football Confederation.
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FIFA headquarters
This is because he faces a potential ban for alleged ethics violations.
Al Mohannadi is also vice-chairman of the AFC, which is holding the elections in Goa.
According to Doha Stadium Plus, he had almost been “sure to win,” and was preparing this week to head to India for the vote.
However, FIFA shared its decision with the AFC’s Electoral Committee earlier this week, the body said in a statement.
‘Presumed innocent’
QFA has not yet commented on the decision, but last month expressed disappointment with FIFA’s decision to investigate Al Mohannadi.
At issue appeared to be “his failure to properly cooperate and provide truthful information to the investigatory chamber in the framework of another investigation.”
FIFA did not disclose any details about the inquiry, but said it was not related to the awarding of the 2022 World Cup, which Qatar is hosting.
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FIFA Congress
It also stressed that Al Mohannadi is “presumed innocent” until any formal decision is made by the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee.
The official’s exclusion leaves six other candidates vying for the three ExCo spots, including: Zhang Jian (China), Ali Kafashian Naeni (Iran), Zainudin Nordin (Singapore), Moya Dodd (Australia), Mahfuza Ahkter (Bangladesh) and Han Un Gyong (North Korea).
At least one of those places will be reserved for a female member.
