LaLiga commits to Vietnamese FA’s development with new MoU
September 11 – LaLiga and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Hanoi that will see the two institutions partner until 2026.
Development
AFC’s Professional Football Task Force plots long term sustainability plan for Asian clubs
August 24 – The AFC, through its Professional Football Task Force, is taking key steps towards the confederation’s objective of establishing a sustainable blueprint aimed at elevating the professional standards of Asian club football.
Emenalo charged with building ‘sustainable’ talent pipeline for Saudi Pro League
July 24 – Former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo, now the Saudi Pro League’s director of football, has spoken of his new role leading the country’s Player Acquisition Centre of Excellence (PACE).
AFC leads on sports medicine with new conference dates, courses and anti-doping regime
July 7 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Medical Committee has appointed Malaysia as the host for its 8thmedical conference to be held in 2025, July 21 to 25.
AFC Referees Committee adds VMO evaluation panel to match officials programme
July 5 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has set up an AFC Elite Video Match Officials Panel to evaluate Video Match Officials (VMOs) prior to appointment to major competitions.
Somalis are latest Saudi hook-up in African football
June 8 – The Saudi Arabian FA has continued to gather co-operation agreements with African nations with the signing of a pact with the Somali FA to help Somalia develop grassroots and youth football.
India U-17s start DFB organised training camp in preparation for Asian Cup in Thailand
May 17 – India’s U-17 national team has started a 15-day training camp in Germany arrives as part of their preparations for the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup to be held in Thailand later this year.
AFC Grassroots Football Day triples in size on its 10th anniversary
May 15 – A total of 39 member associations committed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s Grassroots Football Day, taking place today (May 15).
Saudis build women’s programme with launch of first U17 squad
February 7: Criticism of FIFA’s proposed sponsorship deal for the 2023 Women’s World Cup with the Saudi Arabia tourist board has been loud, but domestically the Saudi’s look to be making all the right moves to provide more opportunity for women in football.
LaLiga and Chinese FA hook up to create permanent Madrid training centre
December 4 – The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has expanded its player development activity outside the country with the set up of a permanent training centre in Santo Domingo, Madrid, for its men’s and women’s teams.
AFC launches new editions of FAC programme for its bosses of the future
July 26 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has boosted its management education for members as it launches its second and third editions of the Football Administration Certificate (FAC) programme for member associations.
Bangladesh keep focus on grassroots as part of AFC development push
July 10 – India may be taking the lead over its neighbours in terms of big tournament organisation with the FIFA U-17 World Cup this October, but the Asian Football Confederation is rolling out its development programmes throughout the region with the Bangladesh Football Federation’s AFC Grassoots Football Day being reported as a resounding success.
Money talk: AFC gathers leagues for forum on financial sustainability
July 6 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) brought its top leagues together earlier this week for a forum that put financial stability at the top of the agenda. The meeting was organised as part of the AFC League Development Programme.
Iran reaps the success of grassroots as focus now turns to developing women’s game
By Paul Nicholson
May 31 – The strength of football in Iran was out evident again at the weekend when the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) held its second Islamic Republic of Iran National Grassroots Conference in conjunction with the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Grassroots Football Day with more than 600 grassroots coaches and managers from across the country present.
AFC and CONCACAF extend knowledge-sharing deal via new MoU
May 10 – Two of FIFA’s six confederations, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, have strengthened their collaboration by signing a fresh Memorandum of Understanding “to encourage knowledge, exchange and to enhance football development in the respective territories.”
