AFC urges support for Salman in FIFA vote

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has urged its member countries to unite behind the body's chief Sheikh Salman in next week's election for the FIFA presidency.

Richard Lai, chairman of AFC's marketing committee, told a meeting of the member associations on Wednesday that while there were two FIFA presidential candidates from Asia - Prince Ali of Jordan is also running - they should all support Sheikh Salman.

Lai said "we must unite behind the one who will deliver these reforms, and that is the AFC president".

Prince Ali has raised questions about whether Sheikh Salman, as a member of Bahrain's royal family, did enough to protect players from alleged abuses after the Arab Spring uprising in 2011.

There are five candidates for the election on February 26.