Former Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Kazi Salahuddin has been re-elected as President of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) for a fifth consecutive term, extending his leadership of South Asian football despite stepping down from the top post at the BFF.

With no rival candidate contesting the position, Salahuddin was elected unopposed at the SAFF Congress held in Bhutan on Saturday.

He was the sole nominee for the presidency in the election for the federation’s Executive Committee. Following the completion of the formal election process, the Congress declared him elected without a vote, in accordance with the SAFF Constitution.

Under Article 24.2 of the SAFF Statutes, when the number of candidates is equal to or fewer than the number of available positions, the Congress may declare those candidates elected without a ballot.

The 71-year-old football administrator has held the SAFF presidency continuously since 2009.

There had been uncertainty over his candidacy due to age restrictions. However, at an Extraordinary Congress held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, last year, SAFF members amended the constitution and removed the mandatory upper age limit of 70, paving the way for Salahuddin to seek another term.

New Bangladeshi Representative on SAFF Executive Committee

The newly elected SAFF Executive Committee also includes a new Bangladeshi representative.

Sabbir Ahmed Aref, Vice President of the Bangladesh Football Federation, has been elected to the SAFF Executive Committee for the first time.

Among the other uncontested results, Jaswar Umaru Labbe of Sri Lanka was elected as a Vice President, while Hussain Shafiu of the Maldives secured a position as a member of the Executive Committee.