Ali bin Al Hussein

There were a few fissures but no major cracks apparent in FIFA president Sepp Blatter's bedrock of Asia-Pacific support as officials began returning to the region from the annual congress of soccer's world governing body over the weekend. 

Michel Platini will on March 24 be elected to a third term as head of European governing body UEFA, putting him on course to add master sports powerbroker to his status as a football legend.
      

Football's world governing body FIFA announced on Feb. 2 that four candidates are bidding to become its president, including long-time incumbent Sepp Blatter.
      

Asia's top sports leaders on Jan. 9 refused to back Prince Ali bin Al Hussein's election challenge to FIFA president Sepp Blatter and insisted it was doomed to failure.
      
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) chief Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa told AFP there would be no about-turn on the regional body's previous commitment to back Blatter.
      

FIFA Vice-President Prince Ali bin Al Hussein said Jan. 6 he would stand against Sepp Blatter for presidency of football's world governing body, declaring that years of controversy surrounding "the beautiful sport" must end.