Qatar selected as host for AFC Asian Cup 2011

The Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee, chaired by President Mohamed Bin Hammam, met in Jakarta on the sidelines of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 and took several key decisions, including approving the proposal to purchase insurance for AFC Match Officials which will include medical benefits for US$20,000, personal accident for US$50,000 and life insurance for US$50,000 and only for the period when they are officiating in AFC Competitions.

Referees

All appointment of referees will be done on a 3-month basis by the Referee Appointment Sub-Committee consisting of Yousef Al Serkal, Worawi Makudi and Ahmad Jassim. Referee Masoud Moradi and assistant referee Sokhandan Reza who officiated in the Qatar vs UAE match AFC Asian Cup match are suspended until further assessment by AFC. Assistant Referee Yew Mun Tang who officiated in the Saudi Arabia vs Uzbekistan match is suspended until further assessment by AFC Referee Najm Talaat for the Vietnam vs UAE match is suspended for one month due to poor performance.

Futsal

The AFC Futsal Committee’s proposal that the AFC Futsal Championship be held every two years starting from 2008 is approved. The Committee also agreed to organise the AFC Futsal Club Championship starting from 2009. (A new competition which adds to AFC’s rapidly rising portfolio)

Professional Leagues

The AFC Executive Committee emphasised upon a proposal from the AFC Professional League Ad-hoc Committee that criteria for participation in the AFC Champions League 2009 with regards to Organisation, Clubs, Stadia and Governance and agreed that Member Associations must meet the criteria in order to be eligible. The Committee also agreed on the method to select the participating Member Associations and the way to determine the number of clubs from each of the eligible Member Association. Further, the Committee decided on the clubs who would be eligible to represent a Member Association.

Official Charity

Reach Out to Asia will be AFC’s Official Charity in a non-exclusive manner.

Vision Asia

A Vision Asia Bureau to focus on the implementation of the projects across Asia will be established. The Bureau will be chaired by Xie Yalong, General Secretary of Chinese Football Association.

Disabled

AFC acknowledges the fact that all persons irrespective of any physical, sensory or mental impairments should be given the right to participate and play football and will be establishing a full-fledged department to take care of the football needs of disabled persons.

Women

AFC will invite three female members from the respective zones to the Executive Committee either as observers or co-opted member: Kim Sun Hui (North Korea) representing East Asia; Moya Dodd (Australia) representing ASEAN; and Ghada M. El-Farhan (Jordan) representing West Asia.

Iraq

Iraq FA’s request for an additional subsidy of US$50,000 (in addition to the US$40,000 given to all participating teams) as their team’s progress to the Final of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 has been approved. The request was to cover the additional travel involving the team on way to the Final.

AFC Asian Cup 2011

In view of the fact that India has withdrawn its bid and AFC has not received any bidding document from IR Iran FF as per the terms of bidding issued in January 2007, the AFC Competitions Committee recommended and the AFC Executive Committee accepted and confirmed Qatar FA as the host for AFC Asian Cup 2011.