AFC lauds 1 mln spectators for flagship tournament

May 25, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – The Asian Football Confederation said its flagship club competition, the AFC Champions League, attracted more than one million spectators during the group stages — a new record.

A total of 1,037,702 fans packed stadiums across Asia to watch 94 group phase encounters as 32 teams slugged it out to make the round of 16.

This year?s milestone overhauled the numbers achieved in the five previous editions of the competition.

“The numbers show that Asian teams are popular in the continent and their game has attained the professionalism required in this modern era,” said AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam.

“I hope that the knockout stages of the competition will throw up interesting battles and the spectators will keep going to the stadiums to cheer their favourite teams.”

The round of 16 kicks off on Wednesday with west zone matches. East zone matches are played on June 24.

The tournament has been expanded this year from 28 to 32 teams with stricter participation criteria imposed in an effort to raise the level of play.

At stake is 20 million dollars in prizemoney, dwarfing the four million available for the 2008 event as the AFC looks to push the competition to another level.

Tags: 20 million dollars, afc champions league, Asia, asian football confederation, asian teams, CAF Champions League, club competition, flagship, group phase, group stages, hammam, june 24, knockout stages, milestone, mohamed, one million, participation criteria, president mohamed, previous editions, professionalism, SINGAPORE, spectators, stadiums, west zone

AFC reinstates voting rights of 5 nations

May 7, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has reinstated the voting rights of five countries who could prove pivotal to the fate of under-fire president Mohamed bin Hammam.

However, a meeting of the governing body’s executive committee unanimously decided to bar Kuwait from voting at their congress Friday, a ruling that contradicts FIFA’s legal opinion.

“It was recommended that Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan, Mongolia and Brunei be given the benefit of the doubt,” an AFC insider told AFP, adding that 12 of the 17 committee members present were in favour.

“But the executive committee, according to AFC statutes, overwhelmingly agreed that Kuwait cannot vote.”

It is the culmination of an ugly saga that threatened to split the AFC, with former top official Peter Velappan warning this week that if the countries were not allowed to vote they may quit the organisation.

Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan, Mongolia and Brunei had been told by the AFC that they could not vote because they had not participated in at least three Asian competitions in the past two years.

But in a legal opinion, FIFA ruled that they had taken part in enough games, making clear that under-13 and under-14 competitions must also be considered.

An AFC executive committee member, who did not want to be named, insisted that the U-13 and U-14 tournaments were not official but an exception would be made for this congress only.

Of the five, Afghanistan, Laos and Mongolia are understood to now be backing Bin Hammam, with East Timor and Brunei behind the challenger for his FIFA executive committee seat, Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

Bin Hammam has said he will step down as AFC chief if he loses his FIFA position, despite his term running until 2011. He needs a simple majority of the AFC’s 46 member nations to win.

As for Kuwait, they had been informed by the AFC that it did not recognise the temporary committee that is running its football affairs.

FIFA though said that it did recognise them after a suspension the Kuwait Football Association was under for political interference was provisionally lifted.

“We don’t know the reason why we are banned from voting and we are awaiting official information,” Kuwait FA vice-president Faisel Al-Dakheel told AFP.

“But the AFC has not followed FIFA’s advice which said we were eligible to vote. It’s a real pity.”

Tags: Afghanistan, al khalifa, Al-Dakheel, asian football confederation, bahrain, benefit of the doubt, CAF Champions League, challenger, committee members, culmination, east timor, executive committee member, FIFA, fifa executive committee, governing body, kuala lumpur, kuwait, laos east, legal opinion, member nations, mongolia, peter velappan, president mohamed, salman, temporary committee, voting rights

FIFA rules ´banned´ AFC associations can vote

April 24, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – World football’s governing body on Friday said five “banned” Asian football associations have the right to vote at the AFC’s crucial upcoming Congress.

It followed a letter from the associations to FIFA president Sepp Blatter urging him to intervene and supervise what they claimed would be an undemocratic Congress next month.

The letter outlining their concerns, including allegations of “threats expressed against some of us”, was signed by senior officials from the FAs of Kuwait, Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan and Mongolia.

All five associations had been told by the AFC that they could not vote on a challenge by Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa to AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam, whose place on FIFA’s executive committee is up for grabs.

Both men claim to have the numbers to win the increasingly bitter battle for the seat on May 8, but with a two-thirds majority required the five votes could prove crucial.

Marco Villiger, FIFA’s director of legal affairs, said in his reply, obtained by AFP, that the associations appeared to meet all the necessary requirements.

“It is our duty to have answered your questions neutrally, objectively and in compliance with the FIFA statues and with mandatory Swiss association laws,” he added.

Four of the associations — Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan and Mongolia — had been told by the AFC they could not vote because they had not participated in at least three Asian competitions in the past two years.

FIFA ruled that they had, making clear that under-13 and under-14 competitions must also be considered.

“Any other interpretation would be against the logical reading of the article (in the statutes),” said Villiger.

As for Kuwait, they were informed by the AFC that it did not recognise the temporary committee that is currently running its football affairs and so were not eligible to vote.

But Villiger said the Kuwait Football Association was recognised by FIFA after a suspension it was under for political interference was provisionally lifted, and it had full voting rights.

He added that “the Congress as the supreme authority of the AFC is the body to decide about voting rights”.

“Neither the (AFC) executive committee nor any other committee have the power to decide about such issues.”

The AFC had no immediate comment.

Tags: AFC, Afghanistan, al khalifa, asian football, bahrain, bitter battle, CAF Champions League, east timor, FIFA, football association, football associations, governing body, hammam, kuwait football, Laos, laos east, legal affairs, Marco Villiger, mongolia, necessary requirements, political interference, president mohamed, senior officials, Sepp Blatter, SINGAPORE, swiss association, temporary committee, world football

Blatter asked to intervene ´urgently´ in AFC row

April 23, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – Five Asian football associations have called on FIFA president Sepp Blatter to “urgently” intervene and supervise what they claim will be an undemocratic AFC Congress next month.

A letter outlining their concerns, including allegations of “threats expressed against some of us,” has been signed by senior officials from the FAs of Kuwait, Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan and Mongolia and sent to Blatter.

All five associations have been banned from voting in the Congress which will see AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam challenged by Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa for a seat on FIFA’s executive committee.

Both men claim to have the numbers to win the increasingly bitter battle but with a two-thirds majority required, the five votes could be crucial.

“We are writing to you because we need, urgently and crucially, your support and guidance,” said the letter, obtained by AFP.

“In recent days we have received letters from AFC’s acting secretary general that are totally against the FIFA and AFC Statutes.

“On the basis of such information and of the threats expressed against some of us, we have reason to believe that there is a serious risk that the AFC Congress will not be held in a democratic way…”

It called for FIFA to “monitor and supervise the process of the Congress and election operations”.

“As FIFA members, we therefore respectfully request FIFA take steps to ensure that the AFC Congress is conducted… with complete fairness and integrity.”

Four of the associations — Laos, East Timor, Afghanistan and Mongolia — have been told they cannot vote because they have not participated in at least three AFC competitions in the past two years.

As for Kuwait, they have been informed by the AFC that it does not recognise the temporary committee that is currently running its football affairs.

The letter to Blatter comes as the heat intensifies ahead of the Congress, with the Olympic Council of Asia this week denying it was involved in “vote-buying” to influence the outcome of the elections.

The previous week, South Korea’s football association filed a complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee against Bin Hammam, accusing him of “groundless, bitter accusations.”

Tags: AFC, Afghanistan, al khalifa, allegations, asian football, bahrain, bitter battle, blatter, CAF Champions League, democratic way, east timor, executive committee, fairness, FIFA, football associations, kuwait, Laos, laos east, mongolia, olympic council, president mohamed, secretary general, senior officials, Sepp Blatter, SINGAPORE, south korea, support and guidance, temporary committee

Olympic Council of Asia fumes over ´vote-buy´ claims

April 20, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – The Olympic Council of Asia on Monday angrily denied “baseless” accusations that it was involved in “vote-buying” to influence the outcome of elections for a FIFA executive committee seat.

The Council, headed by Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah, has been asked by FIFA’s ethics committee to clarify the claims surrounding an increasingly ugly battle for power within the Asian Football Confederation.

At stake is an Asian seat on the powerful FIFA executive committee, currently held by AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam.

His term ends on May 8 and Bahraini Crown Prince, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, is challenging him.

In an interview with Australia’s SBS television on March 30, Bin Hammam claimed that the OCA, via its national Olympic committees, was offering grants to football associations in Asia to secure their votes for Sheikh Salman.

FIFA decided to look into the allegations after a request to do so, reportedly by Australian broadcaster Les Murray, who conducted the interview with Bin Hammam and who also sits on the ethics committee.

But the OCA said it was untrue and is threatening legal action.

“The OCA has completely and absolutely denied the allegations leveled on it with regard to the rumors concerning the AFC elections,” it said in a statement sent to AFP.

The Olympic body said it was asked to clarify its position by the FIFA’s ethics committee on April 16.

“The OCA was quick to respond on the very same day denying the baseless accusations and requested FIFA to name the source,” it said, adding that FIFA denied to reveal who had made the claims.

“However, subsequently OCA found out … that the base of these allegations was the interview given by Mr. Bin Hammam, President of AFC to the SBS, an Australian broadcaster on 30th of March 2009.”

It added that Bin Hammam “leveled allegations on OCA without any proof, which is a part of his unwise campaign and has a created a division in football in the Asian continent”.

“The OCA further expects new accusations and rumors from Bin Hammam till the elections are completed on 8th May which is part of his election strategy.

“Clearly, the OCA cannot leave such accusations unanswered and is now preparing to undertake legal action against these so called ’sources’ along with at least 15 countries who have also been wrongly implicated.”

Qatar’s Bin Hammam, accused by his opponents of running the AFC like a dictator, says he will step down as AFC chief if he loses the FIFA seat, despite his term not expiring until 2011.

He was not immediately available for comment on Monday.

Tags: AFC, Ahmad Al Sabah, al khalifa, al sabah, allegations, Asia, asian continent, asian football confederation, Australia, bahraini, baseless accusations, broadcaster, CAF Champions League, crown prince, FIFA, fifa executive committee, football associations, kuwait, mr bin, Murray, national olympic committees, oca, olympic council, president mohamed, Qatar, sbs television, sheikh ahmad, SINGAPORE, stake

Blatter demands fair play in AFC leadership row

April 17, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has demanded all sides play by the book in an increasingly bitter battle for power inside the Asian Football Confederation.

The head of the sport’s world governing body made the comments as relations between AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam and his chief rival, Bahrain’s Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, plummet.

Shaikh Salman, Bahrain’s Crown Prince, is challenging Bin Hammam for his seat on FIFA’s executive committee, with the winner decided at the AFC Congress in Kuala Lumpur on May 8.

Qatar’s Bin Hammam, accused by his opponents of being a dictator, says he will step down as AFC chief if he loses the FIFA seat, despite his term not expiring until 2011.

The battle, which both sides claim to be winning, has become increasingly political among the powerful factions within the AFC’s 46 member nations, with Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia all opposed to Bin Hammam.

On Wednesday, South Korea’s football association filed a complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee against the Qatari, accusing him of “groundless, bitter accusations.”

The row stems from remarks Bin Hammam made in a television interview in February, in which he blasted Korea Football Association chief Cho Jung-Yeon, saying he was ready to “cut Cho’s head off.”

Meanwhile, the ethics committee is reportedly probing claims by Bin Hammam that the Olympic Council of Asia, via its national Olympic committees, was trying to pressure national football associations to vote for Sheikh Salman.

Blatter, a long-time supporter of Bin Hammam, said all sides needed to start showing more respect and discipline.

“Football is a universal sport based on the fundamental principles of discipline and respect for opponents and the laws of the game… underpinned by the values of fair play and ethics,” he said in a statement.

“These principles and values must be applied not only on the field of play, but also in the administration and governance of football, particularly in the area of sports politics.

“And, of course, this includes elections to the governing bodies of football.

“As president of FIFA, it is my duty to remind all members of the Asian football community of the importance of these values in the run-up to the election scheduled for May 8 for the vacant Asian seat on the FIFA executive committee.”

Several key proposals made by Bin Hammam have proved to be controversial, and helped spark the move to oust him.

These include his plan to move the AFC headquarters out of Malaysia, a proposed 12-year marketing deal with World Sport Group and amendments to the AFC statutes that would consolidate his power.

Despite the move to unseat him, Bin Hammam believes he has the numbers to remain at AFC House, claiming this month that he has the support of 33 of the 46 members nations so far, with a two-thirds majority required.

Asia has four seats on the FIFA executive committee — South Korea’s Chung Mong-Joon as vice-president, Japan’s Junji Ogura from East Asia, Thailand’s Worawi Makudi from Southeast Asia, and Bin Hammam.

Bin Hammam’s is the only position up for election.

Tags: al khalifa, asian football confederation, bahrain, bitter battle, CAF Champions League, chief rival, Cho, Cho Jung-, Chung Mong-, crown prince, East Asia, FIFA, fifa president sepp blatter, football association, football associations, hammam, Japan, kuala lumpur, laws of the game, long time supporter, Malaysia, member nations, national olympic committees, olympic council, president mohamed, Qatar, qatari, saudi arabia, Sepp Blatter, shaikh salman, SINGAPORE, south korea, southeast asia, television interview, Thailand, universal sport, world governing body

Blatter demands fair play in AFC leadership row

April 16, 2009

SINGAPORE (AFP) – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has demanded all sides play by the book in an increasingly bitter battle for power inside the Asian Football Confederation.

The head of the sport’s world governing body made the comments as relations between AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam and his chief rival, Bahrain’s Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, plummet.

Shaikh Salman is challenging Bin Hammam for his seat on FIFA’s executive committee, with the winner decided at the AFC Congress in Kuala Lumpur on May 8.

Qatar’s Bin Hammam says he will step down as AFC chief if he loses the FIFA seat, despite his term not expiring until 2011.

The battle, which both sides claim to be winning, has become increasingly political among the powerful factions within the AFC’s 46 member nations, with Japan South Korea, and Saudi Arabia all opposed to Bin Hammam.

On Wednesday, South Korea’s football association filed a complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee against the Qatari, accusing him of “groundless, bitter accusations.”

Blatter said all sides needed to start showing more respect and discipline.

“These principles and values must be applied not only on the field of play, but also in the administration and governance of football, particularly, in the area of sports politics.

“And, of course, this includes elections to the governing bodies of football.

Bin Hammam’s is the only position up for election.