Another four-year term has been handed down Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta, Jr., who was given a fresh mandate by the Asian Football community in the FIFA Council.
The 68-year-old Araneta was re-elected to the FIFA Council for the term 2023-2027 during the 33rd Asian Football Confederation Congress in Manama, Bahrain.
Araneta got a total of 34 votes, which was more than the simple majority of 23 votes required during the elections.
AFC President H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain was also re-elected as president for the term 2023-2027 by acclamation.
Araneta, during his previous term, was supportive of the increase of slots for Asian countries in the FIFA World Cup from 4.5 slots to 8.5 beginning in 2026.
Support also came from Araneta in FIFA’s bid to allocate $200 million for talent identification and development to help member associations develop and nurture competitive national teams.
“I would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the Asian Football Confederation family for their trust and and confidence in electing me to the FIFA Council for the term 2023-2027,” said Araneta, who was among the seven candidates for one of the five representative seats in the FIFA Council.
He joined Kohzo Tajima of Japan, Datuk Haji Hamidin bin Haji Mohd Amon of Malaysia, H.E. Sheikh Hamad Khalifa A. A. Al Thani of Qatar, and Yasser Al Misehal of Saudi Arabia in the FIFA Council.
Kanya Keomany of Laos, was also elected as the Female Member in the FIFA Council after she got votes to become an AFC Executive Committee Female Member.
“Being in the FIFA Council is a position I do not take lightly and I am well aware of the responsibility given to me. I look forward to continuing our work in the FIFA Council to advance initiatives meant to develop, grow and promote The Beautiful Game,” added Araneta.
The Philippine delegation to the AFC Congress included PFF vice president Joselito Pinol, PFF board member Jay Adriatico and PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes, who acted as the voting delegate from the Philippines.
