The head of soccer's governing body for Asia has announced his bid for re-election, urging that election ``rules and regulations must be respected'' and the process be free from external influences.

Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa took office in 2013 to finish the term of former president Mohamed bin Hammam, who was banned for life from all football-related activities by world-governing body FIFA.

``As you know our elections are always based on the spirit of fair play. Like in football, the rules and regulations must be respected,'' he told delegates Wednesday at the close of the AFC congress. ``We need to be strong on this matter.

``We do not need nor do we want any third party interference or influence in our elections,''

The AFC elections will be held next April, with Sheikh Salman seeking his third term as president. He completed Bin Hammam's term and then was re-elected unopposed in 2015.

Sheikh Salman, a member of the Bahraini royal family and a FIFA vice president, will likely face a challenger from Saudi Arabia.

An expected challenger is Adel Ezzat, who resigned as Saudi soccer federation president last month to prepare a candidacy.

Sheikh Salman also gave Asia's endorsement to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is seeking re-election in June.

Infantino was in Kuala Lumpur this week and posed with officials from the continental federation at a ceremony to mark the opening of a new AFC headquarters.

Sheikh Salman finished second to Infantino in the FIFA presidential election in February 2016.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)