JOIN USChina's Zhang Jilong, the acting head of Asian soccer, will not run for the AFC presidency in its upcoming election, local media reported on Sunday.
The Asian Football Confederation has been without a permanent president since Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam was banned for life by FIFA for corruption and bribery.
"I made this decision totally out of my own will and with careful thinking," Zhang, who has held the acting role since May 2011, said. "I am really honoured that I was entrusted with the caretaker job while AFC was in its most difficult time. I am happy that I did my part to maintain the stability of AFC and my job has been done. It is time to elect a new leader for AFC,’’ he added.
The AFC could not be reached for comment.
Zhang's decision is likely to leave four candidates in the running for the top Asian soccer post, with UAE soccer chief Yousuf Al Serkal, his Bahrain counterpart Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Saudi Arabia official Hafez El Medlej all throwing their hats in the ring from West Asia.