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Thursday, 06 September 2007 00:42 |
THE ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION (AFC)
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of Asian football and one of the six Confederations making up FIFA.
AFC has 46 Member Associations and these represent more than half of the world’s population.
In fact, just India and China have more than 2.5 billion people.
The AFC was formed in 1954. Its headquarters is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The AFC is responsible for running football in Asia. Among its various responsibilities are: regulating the game, drafting new laws to improve the sport, implementing the law, boosting grassroots and youth football, and conducting major competitions.
Zhang Jilong of China is the AFC Acting President.
AFC’s 46 Member Associations
The East region has China, Hong Kong, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Guam, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Macau and Mongolia.
The West has Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen.
In the South and Central zone are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Last but not the least, the ASEAN zone has Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
IMPORTANT AFC COMPETITIONS
AFC Asian Cup™
AFC Women’s Asian Cup
FIFA World Cup (Asian) Qualification
AFC U-19 Championship
AFC U-16 Championship
AFC U-16 and U-19 Women’s Championship
AFC Futsal Championship
AFC Champions League
AFC Cup
AFC President’s Cup
etc.
IMPORTANT DATES
1954 - The AFC as we know it today was formed officially on May 8 of this year in Manila, the capital of The Philippines, on the sidelines of the second Asian Games. Twelve pioneering national associations - Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea Republic, Pakistan, The Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
The body took a recognizable shape when world football governing organisation FIFA sanctioned the AFC in Berne, Switzerland, on June 21, 1954.
1956 - First AFC Asian Cup held in Hong Kong. Korea Republic were crowned champions.
1966 - DPR Korea’s heroics at the FIFA World Cup stun the world. Pak Doo-ik’s winning goal against Italy in their 1-0 win is the first ever by an Asian in the World Cup.
1967 - First Asian Club Championship held in Bangkok, unveiling a new era in club football.
1975 - First Asian Women’s Championship held in Hong Kong.
1985 - The world comes to Asia for the first time as China hosts the FIFA U-17 World Championship.
2002 - The FIFA World Cup is successfully co-hosted by Korea and Japan.
2003-04 - Revamped AFC Champions League for clubs launched, merging three previous club competitions. Vision Asia, a radical development plan launched, by the ninth AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam. Professionalization of football starts in Asia under his leadership.
2004 - AFC celebrates 50th anniversary at AFC House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2007 - Mohamed Bin Hammam re-elected as AFC President. AFC Asian Cup held in four countries. Iraq crowned continental champions.
2009 - AFC Champions League revamped on strictly professional lines.
2011 - Zhang Jilong of China takes over as AFC Acting President.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.the-afc.com
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