Kiron re-elected to FIFA, AFC posts

Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) women's wing chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron was re-elected as a FIFA Council member and an executive member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) when the 29th congress of the continental football governing body was held in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Kiron, who was first elected to these two positions in 2017, beat her only South Zone opponent Mariyam Mohamed of Maldives by 31 to 15 votes to secure the AFC Female Executive Member position. She retained her FIFA Council member position by dint of securing a simple majority vote.

“I want to thank all my football family members from AFC and FIFA who has gifted me this day and fought for me through my tough times. My heartfelt thanks to Honorable AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa for supporting and caring for me like an elder brother. I also thank my mentor – BFF and SAFF president Kazi Salahuddin who has literally moulded a Mahfuza Akhter Kiron. I want to dedicate this day to a great lady -- the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina -- a true inspiration of woman empowerment and role model,” Kiron was quoted as saying in an official statement from BFF.

The election also saw Asia's football chief and FIFA's second-in-command Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa receive a fresh, four-year term as he was elected unopposed.