The FIFA President reiterated, in order of priority, that health comes first, that FIFA is ready to pro-actively help football through these exceptional circumstances, and that an ongoing consultation process is taking place to consider the future evolution of the sport.

In the letter, reproduced below, the AFC President praised the way the Member Associations have come together "to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on an international and domestic level – showing just how much Football Cares."

Shaikh Salman also thanked the work of the AFC’s Member Associations and the contribution of players and officials during this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed so many lives across the globe.

Football will have an important role to play in the weeks and months ahead as the world returns to normality, but now our focus is firmly on protecting the well-being of all those who are involved in our great game.

Each of you, in varying degrees, have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and many of your Governments have taken swift and strong action to prevent its spread and limit its impact on your communities including partial lockdown or restricting movement.

Indeed, in Malaysia, the home of AFC House, the Government has, as you have been informed, imposed a Movement Control Order and, as a precaution, the AFC had starting 17 March 2020 imposed a two week “work from home” initiative to safeguard the staff and their families from further exposure and will be extended if necessary.

In the meantime, business continues as normal to serve the needs of all our Member and Regional Associations as well as our wide range of stakeholders. I have instructed the Administration to process all approved AFAP payments on an urgent basis to ensure salaries of staff and other contractual payments can be made without any delay.

As you know the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus has led to the AFC, with your agreement, postponing matches and events. The AFC thanks you for your continued support, advice and co-operation.

Again, these changes to our calendar were aimed at ensuring the safety and health of our Members, their officials, their players, their staff and, of course, the millions of fans who engage with football in Asia each year.

Their health is, and always will be, our priority.

And that is why it is important that the AFC and all our Member and Regional Associations work with Governments and Health Agencies to curtail the threat of this virus and that everyone should take all precautions.

The AFC strongly urges all its Members to follow the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to exercise the highest levels of hygiene and are pleased to note that some Members have also declared a “work from home” initiative.

The AFC has built its strong foundations on unity and solidarity – particularly in the face of adversity – during the last six years and this situation is another challenge which we will take on together to protect not only our communities but also the future of our game.

Of course, the AFC will take a strong lead and will, as always, be on hand to offer advice and assistance to any of our Member and Regional Associations in these uncertain times.

Please all remain safe and I look forward to the time when football can again play a significant role in bringing excitement and joy to people across Asia.

The AFC President described the Member Associations, the players, officials and match officials, who have led the AFC’s #BreakTheChain campaign, as ‘guiding lights during these dark and challenging times.’

The 100th person to join the much-heralded campaign was Ali Mabkhout from the United Arab Emirates and the AFC has reached that number in just over 10 days – the first 50 signing up in just 48 hours to promote the messages of the highest standards of hygiene, social distancing and, where Governments have stipulated, staying at home.

More than 100 Asian stars as well as match officials and Member Associations have joined the #BreakTheChain public awareness campaign to spread the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines and share the inspiring message of hope and solidarity as an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

The public awareness campaign on the COVID-19 epidemic, which continues to receive overwhelming support from close to 100 players and officials, reiterates the call for unity in these unprecedented times and promotes the guidelines and best practices put in place by the World Health Organization (WHO).