Sana'a - Saba:
Al-Orouba Club has accused the Elections and Appeals Committees overseeing the Yemeni General Football Association elections of bias and favoritism towards the outgoing Chairman.
The club claims that the committees were formed with individuals loyal to the current leadership, undermining fairness in the electoral process.
In a statement issued on Saturday, al-Orouba Club criticized the Appeals Committee's decision to reject an appeal by its presidential candidate, Ibrahim al-Suwaidi.
The club contends that al-Suwaidi met all the necessary criteria to run for the presidency, as confirmed by the head of the Elections Committee. Despite this, the club asserts that decisions were made contrary to the regulations, reflecting a lack of integrity and an undue influence from the outgoing chairman.
The club expressed disappointment with the appeals process, which it hoped would be conducted impartially.
It also noted that the electoral process, from its inception, had been marred by violations, including the exclusion of qualified candidates and an insistence on holding the elections outside Yemen.
Al-Orouba emphasized that the lack of involvement from the General Assembly in the formation of the committees violated both local and international regulations.
Al-Orouba Club's participation in the election was motivated by a desire to bring transparency and honor to the process, offering one of Yemen's top sports figures, Ibrahim al-Suwaidi, as a candidate with a clear program to improve Yemeni football.
The club believes that Yemeni football has been in decline and that al-Suwaidi’s leadership could turn the sport around.
Despite the challenges and obstacles, al-Orouba reaffirmed its commitment to the election, stating that it would respect the outcome and congratulate the winner.
However, the club also warned that it would pursue legal and judicial avenues to address what it sees as electoral irregularities, including seeking intervention from the Asian and International Football Federations and local courts.
The elections for the Yemeni General Football Association’s Board of Directors are scheduled to take place on November 30 in Doha, Qatar.
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