Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Uzbekistan has won the AFC Fair Play Association of the Year award having accumulated more Fair Play points over the year than any other nation in the confederation, with the Central Asians amassing 498.84 points.
Uzbekistan's total was just 16.37 points more than runners-up Iran while Australia were third with 472.17 points.
Fair Play points are given to all national and club teams participating in AFC competitions. Points are awarded for positive play, conduct on and off the field and the behaviour of supporters at the stadium and deducted for the number of red and yellow cards received in a match.
"Winning this award gives us a good feeling and I think it's a good evaluation of our football and the positive work that has been done in Uzbekistan," Uzbekistan Football Federation President Mirabor Usmanov said after receiving the prestigious award from AFC Vice President Yousuf Al Serkal.
"This award makes us more responsible to protect the spirit of Fair Play. We will try our best to help the AFC in its cause of promoting Fair Play," continued Usmanov.
"Fair Play, friendship and respect to the opponents are what we need to teach our players. Inside the field they are opponents but once they leave the field they are Asian colleagues who try to promote the game throughout the globe."