FIFA urged to make human rights key to presidential race

The international football players' union FIFPro has urged FIFA,  world soccer's governing body, to block presidential contenders with a poor record on human rights.  FIFPro's call comes as the President of the Asian Football Confederation, Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain considers entering the presidential race by Monday's deadline.  

As president of the Bahrain football federation in 2011, Sheikh Salman allegedly failed to protect national team players who were arrested during pro-democracy protests. Some players claim they were tortured.  FIFPro, which did not name Sheikh Salman, said candidates ``need to show a body of work based on social wellbeing, fairness, democratic values and human rights.''   Those who cannot ``should be eliminated from the process without further delay,'' FIFPro says.   Presidential hopefuls must pass integrity checks overseen by FIFA's election committee before being accepted as candidates.   (Source: AP)