TASHIMA Kohzo, Vice President and Executive General Secretary of Japan Football Association, was elected today as FIFA Executive Committee Member at the AFC election held at the 26th AFC Congress in Manama, Bahrain.

The 3 seats for FIFA Executive Committee Members (2 for the term of 2015-2019 and 1 for 2015-2017) were contested among a total of 6 candidates. Mr. TASHIMA gained 36 votes and HRH Prince Abdullah Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Hj Ahmad Shah, the other FIFA Executive Committee Member elected for the term of 2015 to 2019, gained 25 votes. H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah was elected as FIFA Executive Committee Member for the term of 2015 to 2017 by acclamation.

Mr. TASHIMA, the newly elected FIFA Executive Committee Member, expressed his joy, “I feel honoured and responsible for what I now take on. I believe this is a result of what I put in for the past four years. I will continue to work hard for further development of football in Japan, Asia and in the world. I am so grateful to all the people who supported me along the way.”

DAINI Kuniya, President of Japan Football Association, commented, “It was our major goal to have a FIFA Executive Committee member from Japan, so we are so happy with the result. I believe the biggest reason for his victory was his tireless and sincere efforts and contribution towards AFC and its Member Associations. I also believe this is a result from each and every initiative that we had worked so hard with Member Associations for further development of football in Asia.”

Mr. TASHIMA became the fourth FIFA Executive Committee Member from Japan, following Soichi Ichida, Yuzuru Nozu and Junji Ogura.