The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Thursday decided to elect its new president in May, turning a new page for the Asian football governing body after its former chief Mohamed Bin Hammam was banned for scandal.

The AFC Executive Committee decided to hold an extraordinary congress and an ordinary congress in the Malaysian capital on May 2 and 3, respectively, two years after Bin Hammam was banned by FIFA for buying votes in the FIFA presidential race.

One position on the FIFA Executive Committee will be another key position up for election besides the AFC president.

The extraordinary congress will also elect one female AFC Vice-President and two female members to the AFC Executive Committee.

The term for the position of the AFC President, one female AFC Vice-President and two female AFC Executive Committee members will be from 2013 until 2015, while the position on the FIFA Executive Committee will have a four-year term until 2017, AFC said.

The Executive Committee on Thursday officially started the election campaign by opening the nominations. The final list of candidates will be released on April 2, 2013, 30 days before the day of the extraordinary congress.

AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong, who took over after Bin Hammam's fall, urged the Executive Committee to take Asian football to a new height in 2013.

Zhang has so far failed to articulate if he would run for the AFC president. He may face fierce challenge from West Asian candidates if he decides to join the campaign.

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