As widely expected, Qatar's Saoud Al Mohannadi withdrew and pledged his support to Sheikh Salman at the election due to take place in Kuala Lumpur on April 6. 

Last week, Mohammad Khalfan Al Romaithi of the United Arab Emirates also withdrew.

Al Mohannadi's decision was inevitable after Sheikh Salman publicly declared he had been promised the votes of at least 40 of the 47 countries who are members of the AFC.

"Our position in the Qatar Football Association has been consistent and supportive of HE Sheikh Salman since he assumed the Presidency of the Asian Football Confederation where I worked closely with him," Al Mohannadi said. 

"As for Asian football, I and the Qatar Football Association in general, will continue to support HE Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim in his role as President of the AFC and we are fully confident he can lead Asia in the way required to power Asian football to a bright future.”

Sheikh Salman was elected AFC President in 2013 at the AFC Extraordinary Congress. 

He had taken over from Acting President Zhang Jilong of China after Qatari Mohammed bin Hammam was banned for life by FIFA.

Sheikh Salman ran for FIFA President in 2016 but was beaten in a second-round ballot by then UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino.