The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) members gathered on Tuesday to postpone the upcoming FIFA Council elections and Extraordinary Congress.

The meeting, which was attended by the most influential Asian football leaders today, lasted only 27 minutes, according to the Macau Daily Times. Representatives of the AFC's member countries have voted almost unanimously, 42-1, to call off the congress and postpone the council elections.

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The proposed Extraordinary Congress, which will be held in Goa, India at a still unannounced date, aims to elect three new representatives to the FIFA Council, the world's official association football decision-making body. One of these positions is reportedly being eyed by Chinese Football Association (CFA) vice president and general secretary Zhang Jian.

However, with the recent developments, there are no indications whether the congress will still push through with the polls in the foreseeable future.

AFC President Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa facilitated the meeting, which led to the said verdict only two days after FIFA disqualified Qatar representative Saoud A. Aziz Al-Mohannadi in running for a spot in the council. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was also present in the assembly.

"The congress has spoken with one voice and that has been clear for us all to see," Sheikh Salman said. "FIFA President Gianni Infantino, I am not sure if you have been at a shorter congress but I think you can see the strength of opinion in the room."

Only Singapore's Zainudin Nordin voted for the congress to push through, as the report mentioned that he "was set to benefit from his Qatari opponent being excluded".

The FIFA Council, headed by Infantino, is said to be intending to increase its members to 37 from the current 34. The proposal, which was sanctioned on the same day Infantino beat Sheikh Salman for FIFA's presidency last February, is said to be one of the current president's planned major reforms for the "scandal-hit world body."

"Today the AFC and Asian football has shown solidarity," Sheikh Salman added. "The message has been clear to everyone both inside and outside Asia." 

TagsAsia Football, Asian Football Confederation, fifa, Zhang Jian, Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Asian Football FIFA Council Elections