Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed bin Hammam (right) smiles after retaining his seat on the FIFA executive committee seat as FIFA President Sepp Blatter sit next to him during the 23rd AFC Congress at a hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday. After one of the most vitriolic battles regional football has known, Bin Hammam survived a challenge from Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa by winning a tense vote 23 to 21. Two ballots were spoiled.

Despite his victory, Bin Hammam, whose AFC term runs until 2011, faces a difficult few years with the organization riven by animosity. But he refused to change his style of leadership, which has led to claims that he is a dictator and that there is no transparency in the organization's financial affairs.

AP