AFC Congress 2013 - Latest News

In addition to the approval of the budget for the 2013-2016 cycle there were a number of amendments to the AFC Statutes proposed by the Executive Committee that were agreed to by the delegates. In addition to some formalities relating to grammatical changes there were amendments to the AFC’s Standing Committees that were introduced to reflect the realties of their function and operation.
The Finance and Marketing Committee has been separated into two separate entities while the AFC Coaching Committee work will form part of Technical Committee as is the current practice. The Vision Asia Committee becomes Development Committee to reflect administration change and FIFA terminology while the Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee will incorporate Beach Soccer in its scope to reflect administration practice.
The Congress also approved the introduction of the AFC Beach Soccer Championship with details about the new tournament to be introduced in due course.
AFC General Secretary Dato’ Alex Soosay presented his report on the achievements of of the confederation since the last Congress in 2011 which was held in Doha, Qatar and although his findings reflected the AFC and its competitions in an impressively positive light he warned the delegates that they cannot afford to rest on their laurels as they continue to take Asian football forward and fight against the scourge of match-fixing and all kinds of discrimination in the modern game

The prestigious Gold Award was given to 31 individuals who have served Asian football for 30 years. There were 22 recipients of the Silver Award (for 20 years service) while 32 people were conveyed with the Bronze Award for having contributed a decade of service to the development and enhancement of the game in the continent.

Click here for a full list of AFC Distinguished Service Award recipients...

Remarking that 50% of FIFA’s estimated US$1 billion revenue comes from Asian sponsors and broadcasters Blatter said:
“Asia is powerhouse. You must be aware of this power and use it well and use it in solidarity with others to help realise our goals of developing the game and preparing a better future.”
Despite swelling the coffers of the global game’s governing body more than any other continent Asia is conversely ‘under-represented’ in the number of places in FIFA tournament’s most notably the World Cup.
And Blatter encouraged the delegates at the Congress to lobby for more places and attempt to create a more level playing field.
"Perhaps we should not change a lot but we have the right, and you have the right, and I have the obligation and the responsibility to bring this matter to discussion," Blatter said, referring to the domination of Europe and South America in the global game.
Asia’s challenge for better representation on the world stage will be led by new AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who was elected to the most powerful position in Asian football at Thursday’s AFC Extraordinary Congress.
Blatter also attended that event and the FIFA President again expressed his congratulations to his AFC counterpart, who was elected to office by winning 33 of the 46 votes to sweep to victory ahead of Thailand’s Worawi Makudi (7 votes) and Yousuf Al Serkal of the UAE (6 votes).
“What prevailed in this electoral congress was discipline and respect,” said Blatter.
“It was a great congress and the procedures for the election were made with total transparency. I congratulate you all and of course most notably my congratulations go to Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa the new AFC President.
“Good luck for the future and as I said yesterday with unity you cannot fail.”

In a wide-ranging speech, the former Bahrain Football Association President spoke about building on the successes of Asian football and fulfilling his election campaign promises of creating a united confederation.
“I am proud to stand here today in front of the Asian football family as the 10th AFC President to discuss and chart together with you the future of Asian football,” Shaikh Salman said at the meeting in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Malaysia’s capital.
“I will start working in earnest on delivering my manifesto because reuniting the Asian football community is the need of the hour.”

Click here to read the full transcript of Shaikh Salman’s speech...

Sheikh Salman, whose term in office will run for two years until the next AFC Congress in 2015, had received 33 of the 46 votes during the AFC Extraordinary Congress in the Malaysian capital on Thursday.

Speaking during a press conference after the AFC Extraordinary Congress, Shaikh Salman said:

“It’s our duty together not only to look at what our challenges are and how to solve them but more importantly to look ahead to our future goals.

“We need be united, to bring everyone in one path, to look ahead to our goals, to achieve our targets, to get as many things done as possible especially by the year 2015.

“There are many great things that can be done in two years’ time. We should expect some changes and we’d like to see smooth transition to our goals and understanding between all MAs.

“Some of our goals have been met while others have yet to be concluded and I’d like to thank former Acting President Zhang Jilong for the work well done in this respect.

“We have to go hand-in-hand to implement our reforms such as those done by other confederations. We should try to look at the future, not only our past.”

The new AFC President expressed the need for support from stakeholders outside the football world in the continental body’s quest to help the Asian game overcome its challenges.

“We should look carefully at our challenges such as match fixing which is a disease. We have zero tolerance to match fixing and corruption practices and we need to make full use of all our tools to fight this phenomenon.

“This problem should not only be tackled from the football side only, but also we need good policing and support from the governments.

“And we should try to create mechanisms to tackle this issue in Asia.”

Shaikh Salman also expressed his gratitude for the trust given him to be at the helm of Asia to realise its aspirations to take its game to the world.

“I’m really humbled by the votes and confidence shown in me and I would like to thank you for your support,” he said.

“We work as a team. We work for one goal. I hope the AFC family will be united and we’ll do our best for Asian football.”

Han and Molano had initially been expected to contest a three-way election for two Female Member seats on the AFC Executive Committee along with Moya Dodd.
But with Dodd being appointed Female Vice President unopposed there was no need for a vote with the Australian also serving as the ASEAN Zone’s Female Exco Member.
The fourth Female Member of the AFC Executive Committee is Bangladesh’s Mahfuza Akhter, who was elected unopposed to the South & Central Zone seat at the 24th AFC Congress in 2011 having been a co-opted member prior to Confederation’s meeting in Qatar.

Dodd, an AFC Vice President since 2009 and the Chairwoman of the AFC Women’s Committee, was the only candidate for the position, the term of which runs until the next AFC Congress in 2015.
"I am delighted to be re-elected as AFC Vice President and very grateful to our Member Associations for their confidence in me,” said Dodd, pictured in conversation with FIFA Executive Committee nominee Hassan Al Thawadi, who lost out to AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

"The opportunities for Asian football are second-to-none. I look forward to working with our new President to better serve football, and especially women's football, on our diverse continent," added Dodd.

The Extraordinary Congress was held to elect the new AFC President, Female Vice President, Female AFC Executive Members for the West and East zones, as well as FIFA Executive Committee Member.

Addressing the conference which was attended by delegates from FIFA, AFC member associations and its sister confederations, Blatter said:

“It is Election Day and it has to be linked to a vision of the future, a vision of where we want to go in the future. So I’d like to recall certain principles which are valid everywhere, especially today.

“United we stand, divided we fail. My appeal to you today is that only together we can achieve the mission of Asian football and only together we can face the challenges.

“As I have always said, Asian football has excellent charisma to bring people together, to bring hope. I am happy to see this repeated in Asian football. For example, football is being played in Syria and Afghanistan. All of us should be proud of this and what we can achieve.

“I can only ask for unity and solidarity. These are the principles and core values of our game and its development. Discipline, respect and fair play on the field of play are also our core principles. So I'd like to call on everyone to just translate the essence of our game to this congress.

“And these principles should be safeguarded and only through them we will have a wonderful and profitable congress.”

Blatter also gave special thanks to outgoing AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong for his contribution to Asian football.

“I'd like to thank the man who was upholding his duty and responsibility as Acting AFC President for the past two years and during the Congress until the election for the new President,” said Blatter.

“He did a very good job and showed his commitment. He deserves a special reward from us.”

While addressing the delegates at the opening of the AFC Extraordinary Congress, Zhang reiterated the AFC’s rich tradition of openness, democracy and culture of unity and solidarity and stressed that these values should continue to be displayed by all Asian football officials.

“I have served Asian football in various capacities for more than 30 years now. As I step aside today as the Acting President, I would like to advise the new president and the office-bearers to guide and lead the AFC by example and keep personal or political interests aside when governing Asian football.

“I would like to thank each and every one of you for your great support and cooperation during these last two years. I didn’t ask for the job. It came my way. And I am not one to run away from my responsibilities. I can see today that I have made a good Acting President and I can go back to my role as the Senior Vice-President with dignity. I can go back a happy man, knowing that I have done my best for Asian football.

“Asian football has a great future and I am happy that I have played my part in making that happen.”

Describing the period since filling the void following the lifetime ban of former AFC President Mohammed bin Hammam as one of the most ‘challenging’ in the Confederation’s history, Zhang pinpointed the success of Asian teams in international tournaments and also highlighted the AFC’s positive achievements in the field of development.

“Asian teams are earning success at the international level. Japan won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011 and the silver medal at the Olympics,” he said.

“Korea Republic won bronze in the 2012 London Olympics, Japan women’s team won and our junior women’s teams have made us proud in FIFA competitions. Asian teams are now regarded as title contenders in world events.

“Another notable achievement I would like to mention here today is the security of our financial position. This directly affects our operations capability and I am pleased that we are working closely with our marketing partners the World Sport Group to maintain our financial viability. Our finances are healthy and we should take pride in this fact because we have exercised prudence.

“Under the Asian Financial Assistance Programme, there has been a marked increase in the development funds available for the Member Associations and this will accelerate the football development activities at the Member Associations level.

“On the development front, we are progressing steadily and 2013 has been designated as Grassroots Year. We have also launched the Kick-Off programme and this is getting a great response.

“Here, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the esteemed President of FIFA and one of Asia’s best friends Joseph Blatter for his continued support and help to Asian football. AFC and FIFA are working hand in hand on several development projects, which indicate a strong desire on the part of FIFA to see Asian football reach new heights.”

A total of 47 Member Associations will be involved in the democratic exercise, which will see several positions being contested and filled.
AFC Extraordinary Congresses have always produced moments for history to record. The last Extraordinary Congress in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the sidelines of the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw a wide-ranging revision of the statutes and consequently the way the game is governed in Asia.
In 2005, Australia were given a whole-hearted welcome to the Asian fold, becoming AFC’s 46th member.
“AFC has a rich tradition of democracy and this will be underlined as the Member Associations take part in the exercise of electing a new set of office-bearers,” said AFC General Secretary Dato’ Alex Soosay.
“Following the election, the Ordinary Congress will convene the next day under the newly elected President and take stock of the current situation and map out the future.”
The AFC General Secretary said all arrangements had been finalised for the historic Congresses.
“This is the first time we are having back-to-back Extraordinary and Ordinary Congresses and the administration has worked hard to ensure that everything is in place for the important occasion,” said Dato’ Alex.
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and several other confederation Presidents and General Secretaries are expected to attend the Congresses.