Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA), yesterday joined the continental football family for the virtual AFC Congress.
The QFA President was joined by Hani Ballan, member of the Executive Committee of QFA, and Mansour al-Ansari, QFA Secretary General, for the AFC Congress that was addressed by President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa in Kuala Lumpur. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also attended the virtual meeting. The online Congress observed a minute’s silence of respect for Argentine World Cup hero Diego Maradona – who died on November 25 – and the legends of Asian football who have passed in the last year. FIFA chief Infantino, on behalf of the international football family, thanked the Asian football federations for their work through initiatives aimed at promoting the FIFA mission and goals to develop the game across the continent.
Infantino praised Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, expressing his great admiration for the ‘superb plans’ to host the game’s top event, saying he saw the fast pace of development during his visit to Doha last week. “The next edition of the FIFA World Cup will be the best in the history of the tournament,” Infantino said during the meeting.
In his comments, the AFC President Shaikh Salman thanked the Qatar Football Association and the Qatari authorities, particularly the medical professionals, for working closely with the AFC to implement the new Covid-19 health protocols which allowed the AFC Champions League to be played in Doha. The final is on December 19.
AFC President calls for patience as Covid-19
takes economic toll
Meanwhile, Shaikh Salman called for patience to overcome the challenges of the Cobid-19 pandemic as the region’s governing body renegotiates its existing and future commercial contracts.
In his keynote address, Shaikh Salman made the request to his confederation’s members and said the body will be in a stronger position next year. “As now we have come to the end of 2020, there are difficult decisions still to be made,” said the Bahraini, who has been AFC president since 2013.
“There is still so much financial instability due to Covid-19 and we are working hard to ensure that the AFC finances are secure to fulfil our vision for the game in Asia...
Qatar Football Association (QFA) president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani (centre), QFA Executive Committee member Hani Ballan (right) and Secretary General Mansour al-Ansari attend AFC Congress’ virtual meeting yesterday.
