By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – Asian football, which has not always spoken with one voice, moved towards a closer alliance today when FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (pictured left) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) acting President Zhang Jilong (right) signed a Collaboration Agreement between the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP) and AFC.
The Amman-based AFDP is a non-profit organisation run by Prince Ali and is designed to complement the AFC by providing assistance to all Asian national and regional associations and affiliates in a fair and transparent manner.
Under the agreement, the AFC and AFDP will “further develop football” in youth and grassroots development, women’s football, social football as well as in protecting and developing the game throughout the continent in the best interest of the game in Asia.
“As a newly formed football NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation), it is essential for AFDP to cooperate closely with AFC in order to maximise the benefit to Asian member associations and ensure synergy at all levels,” said Prince Ali.
“It is a great initiative that will go a long way in helping AFC’s Member Associations,” added Jilong, who took over as interim head of the AFC after Mohamed Bin Hammam was banned for life.
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