Al-Buenain elected as Qatar Football Association president

The General Assembly of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) convened to elect Jassim bin Rashid al-Buenain as the president for the 2023-2027 term. The newly-formed executive committee for the upcoming term includes Hani Talib Ballan (Qatar Sports Club), Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi (Al Rayyan Club), Hassan Juma al-Muhannadi (Al Khor Club) and Khalid Abdullah al-Sulaiti (Al Arabi Club).
The Ordinary General Assembly meeting was attended by the president and members of the Executive Committee, as well as the General Assembly members from the 18 clubs, the Qatar Stars League Management, and representatives from Lusail, Al Bidda and Al Waab clubs. Abdullah Hamed al-Mulla, the Chairman of the Election Committee, and the committee members were also present.
Distinguished guests, including representatives from FIFA – Hany Abu Reda and Essam al-Sahebani – and the Asian Football Confederation – Karim Haidar al-Zain – were invited to oversee the electoral process of the QFA.
Following the first-ever electronic voting process in the elections, the votes were counted. Al-Buenain received 16 votes to secure the presidency. As for the members, al-Suwaidi received 18 votes, Ballan 17, al-Muhannadi 16 and al-Sulaiti 15.
The composition of the new Executive Committee aligns with the amended articles of the QFA regulations, approved by the members in the previous General Assembly meeting. The Executive Committee, serving as the executive body of the Qatar Football Association, consists of a president and four members, with one member appointed as the vice-president, in accordance with the statutory provisions.
Al-Buenain expressed his gratitude to the outgoing president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani for his immense contributions to the QFA and Qatari football during his successive presidential terms. These terms witnessed numerous achievements, championship victories, and the successful hosting of international tournaments. He affirmed that Sheikh Hamad will continue to support and endorse the Qatar Football Association through his membership in the FIFA Council, leveraging his extensive expertise to benefit the QFA at regional and international levels.
Al-Buenain also extended his gratitude and appreciation to the former members of the Executive Committee for their significant contributions and unlimited support to Qatari football during their tenure. He acknowledged the dedicated work of the late Saoud bin Abdulaziz al-Muhannadi across all levels in the past period.
Al-Buenain addressed the members of the General Assembly, including clubs and the Qatar Stars League, extending his sincere greetings and appreciation for their tremendous support to the Executive Committee. He expressed his wish for the new Committee to succeed, emphasising club supports indispensability. He highlighted the unity of purpose among all stakeholders, aiming for the benefit of Qatari football and its continuous growth to the highest levels.
The meeting took place during the Ordinary General Assembly of QFA yesterday at the Al Majlis hall in the Sheraton Doha Hotel. It was attended by General Assembly members, Association directors and heads of departments. At the beginning of the meeting, outgoing working president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani welcomed the attendees and paid tribute to the late Saoud al-Muhannadi – and one of the most important figures in Qatari football.
Sheikh Hamad said: “After Jassim al-Buenain learned about my non-candidacy in the elections, he expressed his desire to run, and he was appointed as the Vice-President of the Qatar Football Association on February 22, 2023. He was also entrusted by the QFA to manage the Qatar Stars League on February 27, 2023. Since then, I have decided that my brother al-Buenain should take on a greater leadership role within the association. Therefore, he has prepared well in the past period, and I have been by his side in the past, and I will continue to be so in the future.”
Mansour Mohamed al-Ansari, the Secretary-General, then took over to present the assembly’s agenda. The meeting began with a quick presentation showcasing the major milestones from 2018 to 2022 through a short film. Al Rayyan, Al Arabi, and Al Shahania clubs were appointed to review the meeting minutes, while Al Gharafa, Al Khor, and Muaither were assigned as vote auditors.
The minutes of the previous General Assembly meeting, held on March 27th last year, were approved. Additionally, there was a vote on the Executive Committee’s proposal to grant the title of honorary president of the QFA to Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani.
The membership of Lusail, Al Bidaa, and Al Waab clubs was then voted upon and accepted. This was followed by the approval of the President’s report, the presentation of the unified, audited, and consolidated budget, the statement of profit and loss, and the approval of financial data and the budget.