Courtesy: -> Futsal Planet


AFC to put best foot forward

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Kuala Lumpur: AFC will put its best foot forward in its quest to take Asian football to the next level.
This was the unanimous message emanating from the AFC Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday at AFC House.

AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong was in the chair while FIFA President Joseph S Blatter and FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke were the guests of honour.

In his opening remarks, Jilong assured the members that the confederation’s affairs were running normally.

“It’s business like normal and the affairs of the confederation are running competently and smoothly,” said Jilong. “The streamlining of the administration is underway which has enhanced our efficiency.”

The Acting President also thanked the members for their support.

“I would like to place on record my gratitude for your support and the manner in which you heeded my call for unity and solidarity. You have acted in the best interests of the confederation and I would like this to continue.”

Jilong said a new era had dawned in the relations between FIFA and AFC.

“It’s a new era of optimism, respect and cooperation between AFC and FIFA. We need FIFA’s backing and support as we try Asian football to the next level.

“The need of the hour is stability with AFC and improved relations with FIFA. With stability comes confidence and with confidence comes strength.

“We need all these help to help Asian football develop. It’s time to turn over a new page. It’s time to move on, confidently and by linking our arms together.”

FIFA President Blatter addressed the Executive Committee and praised AFC’s spirit of unity and solidarity, and the leadership provided by Acting President Jilong and AFC General Secretary Dato’ Alex Soosay.

“You have faced an uncomfortable situation and overcome it. You have shown the energy and especially the unity and solidarity with which you did not let the situation affect your organisation,” he told the members.

“Mr. Jilong is a well-known face in football circles since decades and I would like to congratulate you and the General Secretary Dato’ Alex Soosay for what you have done because this showed your strength and team spirit.”

He said AFC had an active role to play not only in Asia but also in world football.

“Football can play an important role in the society and my aim will be to develop its socio-cultural impact. We can achieve the goal of bringing the sport to the society together,” said Blatter.

“AFC has proven the development aspect in the past and what Asia has achieved in women’s football speaks for itself,” he added, going on to praise Japan for winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Executive Committee took a number of decisions, a summary of which follows:

- Renamed the AID27 Programme as AFC Financial Assistance Programme.
- Approved inclusion of Northern Mariana Islands Football Association in the AFC Financial Assistance Programme.
- Agreed for research on ‘Character Building Education through Football’.
- Approved the AFC Elite Refereeing Officials for 2012.
- Approved to give a facelift to the AFC logo.
- Approved Kuwait as hosts of the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2012.
- Approved UAE as hosts of the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship.
- Approved Iran as hosts of the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship.
- Approved Malaysia as hosts of the 2012 London Olympics men’s qualifiers Round 4.
- Approved the AFC Competitions calendar for 2014.
- Approved changes in the competitions regulations.
- Mandated FIFA Vice-President HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and other FIFA Executive Committee members to pursue the review of the headscarf rule with FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB). (The resolution on the headscarf issue came out of a seminar hosted by HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.)
- Appointed HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein as Chairman of the AFC Social Responsibility Committee and Vietnam’s Tran Quoc Tuan as Deputy Chairman of this committee. Dr. Kwak Chung-hwan, former chairman of this committee, has been appointed as the committee’s advisor.
- Appointed AFC Vice-President HRH Prince Abdullah Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah as the Chairman of the AFC Ad-hoc Committee for Land and Building




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com