AFC Hails Qatar's Preparations to Host the World Cup

Al Janoub Stadium

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) praised Qatar's preparations to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

This came during the meeting of the Executive Office of the AFC, which was held today in the Bahraini capital, Manama, and was chaired by AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

The AFC President also praised the will, determination and dedication of the Asian football family, which contributed to the success of the continental federation in organizing its tournaments and many development and training programs during 2021.

He also affirmed the gratitude of the AFC to the national federations that hosted the tournaments in the pool system, as well as to the teams, clubs, referees, commercial and media partners, football fans, who contributed a great deal to the safe resumption of Asian football competitions.

The AFC President reviewed the upcoming plans and programs in the confederation, which will contribute to enhancing the strength of the game in the continent of Asia, and prepare for entering a new era of development, according to the vision framework of the continental confederation to improve and develop club competitions.

Sheikh Salman confirmed that the AFC competitions evolve in the same time that AFC continue to adapt to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be changes in terms of foreign player regulations, as well as changes to the competition calendar. As these are all part of the strategy to develop players, clubs and national teams, AFC President said.

Al Khalifa and members of the Executive Office praised the member national federations and regional federations, which continued their commitment to implementing game development programs throughout the continent, by converting most of the development and training programs and activities to the electronic system.

He explained that during the pandemic, development funding in the AFC has proven effective in managing operations in national and regional associations, and now AFC seeking to update the framework of funding programs in the confederation, in order to help national and regional associations benefit from these grants in long-term development programs.

On the other hand, the AFC Executive Office decided to endorse the recommendations of the Development Committee in the confederation, in order to transfer the allocations to the current financial assistance program and the funding program for regional associations, to be used in accordance with the advanced program to assist national associations guidelines and policies.

AFC indicated in a statement that through the new advanced program for national associations, the beneficiary national associations, except for associations that have been sanctioned or associations that have been suspended, will be able to obtain financial assistance amounting to two million dollars over 4 years, allocating a maximum of USD 500,000 annually, to be used in 3 main aspects, including administration, competition management, and infrastructure development.

AFC pointed out that for the advanced program for regional federations, these federations will receive financial assistance amounting to one million dollars over 4 years, with a maximum of USD 250.000 annually.

AFC explained that the instructions for the new advanced program will be implemented under the supervision of the AFC Development Committee.

The Executive Office also approved the recommendations of the Medical Committee regarding the recipients of the AFC Medical Award 2022, which will be presented on the sidelines of the 2022 Medical Conference to be held in Doha, in March next year.

SOURCE: QNA