Australia's professional players union has slammed the country's support for the re-election of Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa in the wake of the Hakeem al-Araibi affair.

Incumbent Sheikh Salman was roundly criticised for his inaction on the case of Australia-based Bahraini player al-Araibi, who was arrested in Thailand in November and imprisoned due to an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain's request.

Al-Araibi, who sought asylum in Australia after a Bahrain court sentenced him in absentia to 10 years' jail for vandalism, was released last month under the weight of huge international pressure and is now an Australian citizen.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) on Monday issued a statement confirming it had agreed to back Sheikh Salman in the April 6 election along with the 11 Southeast Asian countries who also make up the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) said its executive had noted FFA's position with "deep concern".&nbsp;

"FFA's support – without consulting with key members of the FFA Congress – is difficult to understand given the unity of purpose the Australian football family recently displayed to help secure the freedom of Hakeem Al-Araibi," PFA Chief Executive John Didulica said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The inability of the incumbent to protect and promote the human rights of one of the game's players in line with his constitutional obligations demonstrates a breath-taking failure as the continent's highest office holder and a repudiation and abrogation of the office of President."

The FFA was not able to provide immediate comment.

The AFC waited two months after al-Araibi's detention in Bangkok to issue its first public statement, saying it was working with FIFA to try to resolve the case.

Al-Araibi has long denied he was involved in vandalism in Bahrain and has been a vocal critic of Sheikh Salman's leadership.

The PFA wrote to FIFA last week to ask how Sheikh Salman and other candidates in the AFC presidential race had passed the global governing body's "eligibility" checks but said they had not received any response.

The PFA also complained that it had not been consulted by the FFA's executive board over the governing body's backing for Sheikh Salman.

"We await FIFA and/or FFA to urgently provide the basis upon which the incumbent satisfied the eligibility criteria notwithstanding the fundamental concerns raised by the PFA over his ongoing tenure during the period of Hakeem`s detention," the PFA said.

On Monday, former Socceroo Craig Foster, who led the campaign to have al-Araibi freed from detention, described Australia`s support for Sheikh Salman as "sickening".&nbsp;

Australia's professional players union has slammed the country's support for the re-election of Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa in the wake of the Hakeem al-Araibi affair.

Australia's professional players union has slammed the country's support for the re-election of Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa in the wake of the Hakeem al-Araibi affair. Incumbent Sheikh Salman was roundly criticised for his inaction on the case of Australia-based Bahraini player al-Araibi, who was arrested in Thailand in November and imprisoned due to an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain's request. Al-Araibi, who sought asylum in Australia after a Bahrain court sentenced him in absentia to 10 years' jail for vandalism, was released last month under the weight of huge international pressure and is now an Australian citizen. Football Federation Australia (FFA) on Monday issued a statement confirming it had agreed to back Sheikh Salman in the April 6 election along with the 11 Southeast Asian countries who also make up the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) said its executive had noted FFA's position with "deep concern". "FFA's support – without consulting with key members of the FFA Congress – is difficult to understand given the unity of purpose the Australian football family recently displayed to help secure the freedom of Hakeem Al-Araibi," PFA Chief Executive John Didulica said in a statement on Tuesday. "The inability of the incumbent to protect and promote the human rights of one of the game's players in line with his constitutional obligations demonstrates a breath-taking failure as the continent's highest office holder and a repudiation and abrogation of the office of President." The FFA was not able to provide immediate comment. The AFC waited two months after al-Araibi's detention in Bangkok to issue its first public statement, saying it was working with FIFA to try to resolve the case. Al-Araibi has long denied he was involved in vandalism in Bahrain and has been a vocal critic of Sheikh Salman's leadership. The PFA wrote to FIFA last week to ask how Sheikh Salman and other candidates in the AFC presidential race had passed the global governing body's "eligibility" checks but said they had not received any response. The PFA also complained that it had not been consulted by the FFA's executive board over the governing body's backing for Sheikh Salman. "We await FIFA and/or FFA to urgently provide the basis upon which the incumbent satisfied the eligibility criteria notwithstanding the fundamental concerns raised by the PFA over his ongoing tenure during the period of Hakeem`s detention," the PFA said. On Monday, former Socceroo Craig Foster, who led the campaign to have al-Araibi freed from detention, described Australia`s support for Sheikh Salman as "sickening".

Australian players union slams FA's support for Sheikh Salman

Asian&nbsp;Football&nbsp;Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa warned against a return to "turmoil and instability" on Wednesday as he launched his bid to retain his position at the helm of the continent's governing body.

Sheikh Salman, who is seeking a third term in office, was first elected AFC president in 2013 to complete the term of disgraced former president Mohammed bin Hammam.

Bin Hammam was banned for life by FIFA, the game's governing body, in 2011 and the AFC was led by interim president Zhang Jilong until Sheikh Salman's successful election.

The Bahraini was reelected to his post in 2015 and is seeking another term in office when the confederation's elections are held on April 6 next year.

"We all remember only too well the problems of the past, that period of turmoil and instability," he told the AFC Congress on Wednesday.

"No one wants to return to that image of the AFC and I'm determined we shall not. We also need to protect the AFC and the member associations from unwanted third-party interference.

"That will not only damage the game, but also drag the organisation and member associations down. My colleagues on the executive committee and I will defend AFC and our member associations."

Sheikh Salman's hopes of retaining his position were boosted when the Congress passed an amendment to rules governing the election process allowing candidates to be nominated by member associations other than their home federation.

Former Saudi Arabia&nbsp;Football&nbsp;Federation President Adel Ezzat publicly stated his intention to stand against Sheikh Salman last year. However, his hopes of building a power base suffered a blow on Tuesday when members of the South Asian&nbsp;Football&nbsp;Federation withdrew from the Saudi-created South West Asian&nbsp;Football&nbsp;Federation.

Sheikh Salman also pledged his support to the reelection campaign of Gianni Infantino, who defeated the Bahraini in the FIFA presidential election in 2015.

"We will be full supporting you to do your work at FIFA," he told Infantino.

"There is still a lot of work to do and you are the man to complete that task. You can count on us and you can count of Asia, Mr President."

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa warned against a return to "turmoil and instability" on Wednesday as he launched his bid to retain his position at the helm of the continent's governing body.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa warned against a return to "turmoil and instability" on Wednesday as he launched his bid to retain his position at the helm of the continent's governing body. Sheikh Salman, who is seeking a third term in office, was first elected AFC president in 2013 to complete the term of disgraced former president Mohammed bin Hammam. Bin Hammam was banned for life by FIFA, the game's governing body, in 2011 and the AFC was led by interim president Zhang Jilong until Sheikh Salman's successful election. The Bahraini was reelected to his post in 2015 and is seeking another term in office when the confederation's elections are held on April 6 next year. "We all remember only too well the problems of the past, that period of turmoil and instability," he told the AFC Congress on Wednesday. "No one wants to return to that image of the AFC and I'm determined we shall not. We also need to protect the AFC and the member associations from unwanted third-party interference. "That will not only damage the game, but also drag the organisation and member associations down. My colleagues on the executive committee and I will defend AFC and our member associations." Sheikh Salman's hopes of retaining his position were boosted when the Congress passed an amendment to rules governing the election process allowing candidates to be nominated by member associations other than their home federation. Former Saudi Arabia Football Federation President Adel Ezzat publicly stated his intention to stand against Sheikh Salman last year. However, his hopes of building a power base suffered a blow on Tuesday when members of the South Asian Football Federation withdrew from the Saudi-created South West Asian Football Federation. Sheikh Salman also pledged his support to the reelection campaign of Gianni Infantino, who defeated the Bahraini in the FIFA presidential election in 2015. "We will be full supporting you to do your work at FIFA," he told Infantino. "There is still a lot of work to do and you are the man to complete that task. You can count on us and you can count of Asia, Mr President."

AFC must avoid return to 'turmoil and instability': Sheikh Salman

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Australian players union slams FA's support for Sheikh Salman

AFC must avoid return to 'turmoil and instability': Sheikh Salman