China aims to build its growing influence at FIFA by fielding a candidate in Asian elections for new seats on the world soccer body's ruling council that were created during anti-corruption reforms. The Chinese soccer federation's general secretary, Zhang Jian, is competing against candidates from Iran, Qatar and Singapore for two vacant FIFA seats in a Sept. 27 vote. The Asian Football Confederation said Friday that all four men, plus three female candidates seeking a seat guaranteed for women, have passed integrity checks by FIFA to stand for election by its member federations meeting in Goa, India. More...