Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa will govern Asian football for another four years after his final challenger for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presidency withdrew his candidacy on Thursday.

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa will govern Asian soccer for another four years after his final challenger for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presidency withdrew his candidacy on Thursday.

A sports website reported that the official from the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Khalfan Al-Romaithi, was on the verge of pulling out on Sunday (March 17) after he withdrew funding for his bid following the decision by the 12 members of the ASEAN Football Federation, including Australia, to publicly back Sheikh Salman.

Football player Hakeem Al-Araibi condemned Australia's support for the re-election of Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

Australia's football body announced its support for the re-election of under-fire Asian soccer chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa on Monday, drawing criticism from a prominent campaigner who called it "sickening".

Former Socceroo Craig Foster has described as "sickening" the support of Australia for the re-election of Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa.

Australia�s meaning to Bahrainis has changed forever, and of course in the heart of Hakeem Al-Araibi, who said upon his return "I will be strong for Australia. I love Australia. It is my country".

Football analyst Craig Foster said that the Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi is determined to return to the pitch once his nightmare comes to an end in Thailand.

Protesting against the ongoing detention of football player Hakeem Al-Araibi, the Football Federation Australia has cancelled a proposed trip to Thailand as the under 23 men's national team prepares for its AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in March.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday he was �disturbed� to see Bahraini refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi in shackles in Thailand and had told its prime minister this was a serious issue for Australians, reported Reuters.

Former Australian captain Craig Foster said that Bahrain's timing of its unjust demand to the Thai court to extradite Hakeem Al-Araibi demonstrates the contemptuousness with which Bahrain has treated international sport throughout the travesty of justice.

Lawyer of Bahraini refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi said the court has given her 60 days to submit the defense's case.

A number of rallies were held in Australia�s Sydney and Melbourne on Friday (February 1, 2019), in solidarity with Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi and all Bahraini prisoners of conscience.

Thailand's government should immediately release the refugee football player Hakeem Al-Araibi and let him return to his wife and team in Australia, Human Rights Watch said yesterday in announcing a campaign for his freedom.

Australian football player and analyst Craig Foster called to find a solution for Hakeem Al-Araibi case before the end of the week.

Bahrain's government has submitted documents for the extradition of Hakeem Al Araibi, a Bahraini refugee footballer held in prison in Thailand, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Activists have called for Asia's football chief, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, to resign after the body admitted for the first time that the Bahraini royal family member has a "conflict of interest" in regard to his jailed compatriot, Hakeem Al-Araibi, South China Morning Post newspaper reported.

The Asian Football Confederation said on Saturday that President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa had had no influence on their handling of the case of a Bahraini player arrested in Thailand in November over a prison sentence in his homeland.

Head of World Players Association said Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa should be disqualified from his positions as vice-president of Fifa and president of the Asian Football Confederation if Hakeem Al-Araibi is returned to Bahrain, the Guardian reported.

Australian football player and analyst Craig Foster continues his tour in Thailand in support of Hakeem Al-Araibi's case.