FFA Chair Chris Nikou Elected To AFC Executive Committee
Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chair, Chris Nikou, has been elected on a four-year term, the second Australian ever to serve on the Executive Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Mr Nikou said he is committed to using this opportunity to further the development of the AFC in their goal of becoming the world’s leading football confederation.
“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.
“Recognising that responsibility, I am committed to working hard to support the development of the world game across the entire Asian football community,” Mr Nikou said.
“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.
“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,” he said.
Mr Nikou’s election marks the formal conclusion of fellow Australian, Moya Dodd’s twelve years on the AFC Executive Committee, which included a period of time where Dodd served as the organisation’s first ever female Vice President.
Ms Dodd said she is grateful she was provided with an opportunity to contribute to football.
“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,” she said.
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).
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 United Arab Emirates.
