FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman unhappy with 'nasty lies'
Tuesday 27 October 2015 10:03, UK
FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa claims allegations made to Sky Sports News HQ of his involvement in human rights abuses are "lies".
The Asian Football Confederation president is one of eight candidates hoping to replace Sepp Blatter, when delegates vote on his successor in February.
And Salman admits being hurt by accusations that he was complicit in the detention of footballers and other athletes in 2011 while head of the Bahrain Football Association.
There is solid evidence he aided these crimes against protestors which led to their torture in 2011.
Kate Kizer from the group Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain told Sky Sports News HQ: "He should not be permitted to run for the presidency of FIFA, primarily for his role in the crackdown against protestors and athletes in Bahrain in 2011.
"Sheikh Salman was complicit in aiding and abetting crimes against humanity against the players of the Bahrain national team, as well as other sports staff and athletes, some of whom remain in jail or suspended from the game to this day.
"Sheikh Salman has repeatedly denied these claims against him but there is solid evidence he aided these crimes against protestors which led to their torture in 2011.
"And I do not think this speaks to the ethics or meritocracy which FIFA was set up to be.
"So him being a competitive candidate for the presidency should be of concern to the football world."
These are false, nasty lies that have been repeated again and again.
But Salman, a member of the Bahrain Royal Family, told the BBC: "I cannot deny something that I haven't done.
"It's not just damaging me, it's damaging the people and the country. These are false, nasty lies that have been repeated again and again in the past and the present."
Among his opponents for football's top job is UEFA president Michel Platini.
The 60-year-old Frenchman, the one-time favourite for the job, has submitted his candidacy but is currently banned for 90 days following an inquiry into a £1.3m payment made to him from Sepp Blatter in 2011.
