Sheikh Salman had been pushing for the rule change since he replaced the disgraced former AFC President, Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam last year after he was banned for life by FIFA for corruption.

Jordan Football Association President Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein currently holds the Asian vice-Presidency role within FIFA having being elected to the position in 2011.

But he now faces the prospect of losing his place at the top tier of world football's governing body after 43 of the 46 Asian football federations present at the Extraordinary Congress voted to change the structure.

Both Sheikh Salman's and Prince Ali's positions with the AFC are up for re-election early next year where it is widely expected that the Bahraini will be elected for a further four-years thus securing him a place on the FIFA Executive Board.

Prince Ali has been widely credited with improving grassroots football throughout Asia including the introduction of the Asian Football Development Project and played a central role in convincing FIFA to relax the rules on women wearing hijabs playing football.

But the margin of votes in favour of changing the rule indicates that Sheikh Salman has the strong backing of the majority of AFC members.

In addition, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the influential President of both Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President and Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), has been vocal in his support of Sheikh Salman.

He publicly backing him prior to the AFC Presidential election in Kuala Lumpur last year.

Prince Ali supported Sheikh Salman's bid for the AFC Presidency but has since been vehemently opposed to the Bahraini's plan to merge both roles claiming it was "politically motivated".

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan faces losing his place as FIFA vice-President next year ©Getty Images



Sheikh Salman, however, brushed any accusations aside.

"Today, we have reached an important decision in the spirit of the AFC's long-held tradition of democracy," he said.

"We have decided that the seat of FIFA vice-President should go to the AFC President.

"Our member associations believe that this is the right decision for our organisation."

Last year, Sheikh Salman also won a separate election against Qatari Hassan Al Thawadi for a four-year term on FIFA's Executive Committee, a position that will likely be freed up by today's merger.

That could leave Prince Ali free to go for that position or even mount a Presidential challenge to the Sheikh.

The AFC elects four seats on FIFA's Executive Committee, three of which are up for election next year, including Prince Ali's along with Worawi Makudi of Thailand and Zhang Jilong of China.

Australia's Moya Dodd is a coopted member representing women's football.

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