By Paul Nicholson
November 28 – AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has praised his member associations for their unity and commitment to making the AFC’s competition’s happen despite the challenges of the global pandemic.
Speaking at the 31st AFC Congress, its second to be held virtually, Shaikh Salman said: “While we are not together in the same room we are together in sport. We have the same spirit of unity and it has been crucial to show the world we have built a solid foundation over the past eight years.”
“We will deliver on our promises,” he continued. “Asia will be centre of world football in the coming years with two World Cups. The football world has trusted Asia and it can count on Asia to deliver.”
Reflecting on the “biggest crisis of our time”, he said they “can take pride in Asian football’s response”.
The AFC went from being able to complete just two of its competitions in 2020, to completing six in 2021. At the same time Shaikh Salman highlighted the work of national associations in the return of football in their countries.
“National and local competitions are the basis of our football,” he said. “We continue to work harder and come back stronger and aim at higher levels.”
“Slowly but surely, thanks to the unity of the AFC’s members, Asian football continues to emerge stronger from its darkest hour and now we are well positioned to seize the vast opportunities ahead of us,” he said.
Those opportunities include showcasing Asian football to the world.
“The coming years will be a crucial period for the AFC and its members as Asia will be at the centre of world football,” said Shaikh Salman.
“As I have said before, this is Asia’s time and in less than two months, we will usher in 2022 with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in India.
“Expanded to 12 teams, it represents our desire to strengthen the women’s game in Asia and I am confident that the All India Football Federation and the Local Organising Committee will provide our female stars with the perfect stage,” he added.
“India will also host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the spotlight will remain in Asia with the FIFA Club World Cup moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2022.”
Outlining how the confederation itself had adapted during the pandemic, the increased opportunities for education being provided by the AFC and the changes to the AFC’s financial assistance programme.
“Through education we will strengthen the capacity of our current and future leaders. And we will have more educational programmes in the future.”
Under the new AFC Enhance programme, the AFC’s financial assistance to members will be significantly improved with member associations eligible for $2 million grants over the next four years and regional associations receiving $1 million.
The Congress approved the AFC’s accounts for 2022, as well as projected accounts for 2021 and budget for 2022. Revenue dropped from $197 million in 2019 to $164.2 million in 2020 when the pandemic hit. Revenue is project to return to $173 million in 2022 (up from $152 million in 2021), with the AFC budgeting to deliver 11 competitions.
“Guided by the AFC’s Vision, our achievements on the pitch were matched by our commitment to strengthen our Member and Regional Associations off the pitch. It was crucial that we continued to ensure our Members were in the best possible position to uphold the standards of good governance and integrity,” said Shaikh Salman.
“Our humble duty is, and must always be, to hand over this beautiful game in better shape than when we inherited it. Through our collective strength and solidarity, we have achieved so much together and rooted in this unity, I firmly believe that Asian football will continue to scale even greater heights.”
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