Zhang Jilong receives AFC Diamond of Asia Award

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Zhang Jilong, the former vice president of the Asian Football Confederation, has become the first Chinese to receive the AFC Diamond of Asia award. The 66-year-old served as vice president of the confederation for 19 years.

The current president of the AFC, Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, paid an official visit to Zhang's home in Beijing on Wednesday, and presented the AFC's highest honor to Zhang. The award goes to a person who has made significant contributions to the development of Asian football.

Zhang served as vice president of the AFC from 1997 until 2011. He ran for a seat on the FIFA executive committee on January 2011, but was defeated in a vote at the AFC's congress in Doha.

Zhang was appointed as acting president of the AFC in 2011, after FIFA suspended Mohamed Bin Hammam for life on 23 July 2011, due to bribery allegations. Bin Hammam was later officially dismissed as head of the AFC.

Zhang acted as the first executive chairman due to the suspension of Bin Hammam, and was also elected as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee.

Zhang resigned in 2016 because of health problems and later became a consultant for the Chinese Football Association.