By Mark Baber
January 24 – The Lebanese Football Federation is to enter the bidding for the 2019 Asian Cup.
The Federation said: “An agreement is in place to begin the process of bidding for the Asia Cup 2019. A comprehensive and detailed bid document will be put together, containing all the infrastructure and logistics requirements necessary for a successful bid. After the outline is ready, we will present it to the Asian federation for approval.”
Lebanon hosted the event in 2000 but failed to advance past the group stages in their only ever appearance in the competition.
The decision follows on from the recent decision of the international basketball authorities to strip Lebanon of the right to host the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
FIBA stated the decision was due to the “current situation in the region and the on-going civil war in Syria, which has its indirect effect on the countries in the whole of West Asia, especially on Lebanon”.
The decision of the football authorities will be a boost to football supporters in Lebanon who have been celebrating football’s success in overcoming sectarian differences.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734983880labto1734983880ofdlr1734983880owedi1734983880sni@o1734983880fni1734983880