October 16 – AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, reflecting on the successes of the AFC member nations over the past year also reminded his national associations that football has a social role to play and that their solidarity with and support for Palestine, Nepal and the Philippines was essential to their rebuild.
Shaikh Salman was speaking after a meeting of the AFC executive committee that capped a week of committee meetings in Saudi Arabia and before the AFC Awards ceremony last night.
Unity has long been a theme of Salman’s presidency which has been marked by confederation wide solidarity and support. He said that support was needed again as Palestine begins the process of rebuilding now a ceasefire has been agreed with Israel, as Nepal emerges from a period of deadly political protest and the Philippines begin the process of recovery after earthquakes hit the country.
“Our gathering here in Riyadh is a reflection of our unity and of the progress we continue to make together. But it also reminds us that football does not exist in isolation. It is shaped by the challenges, struggles, and triumphs of our societies,” said Salman.
The whole world has watched as Israel has obliterated Gaza with leaked Israeli military intelligence reportedly saying that more than 200,000 Palestinians have either been killed or severely injured in the conflict – 80% of them civilians. A total of 1.9 million out of a total population of 2.1 million have been displace.
“We must stand with our members in tough times to ensure that football remains a force for unity and resilience. I wish to once again express our solidarity with the Palestine FA and extend my deepest sympathies to all the victims in Gaza. While we are all relieved by the recent peace announcement in Gaza, I would like to assure the Palestine FA of our full support as they continue to rebuild their football activities, safeguard their players and officials, and keep the spirit of the game alive under these challenging circumstances,” said Salman.
While the bombing may have stopped, the incursion of the Israeli military into Gaza and its increased aggression in the West Bank towards Palestinians hasn’t.
The Palestinian FA (PFA) for more than 10 years has made complaints about the Israeli FA repeatedly breaking FIFA’s statutes and yet it has remained unpunished. Before the FIFA Congress in Paraguay the AFC and Salman called on FIFA for an early resolution to the long running complaint from the PFA to FIFA of clubs in illegal settlements in the West Bank playing in the Israeli leagues.
FIFA barely recognised the complaint at the Congress despite an address to the membership by the PFA’s Susan Shalabi that was met with spontaneous applause by national federations. Within 90 seconds of the applause ending FIFA’s general secretary Mattias Grafstrom had brutally booted the issue into the future saying that it was the subject of FIFA’s ‘competent’ authorities to resolve. Grafstrom is brazenly pictured front and centre in the post-AFC executive committee picture.
In his comments Salman also offered “our full support and sympathies to the All Nepal Football Association and the Philippine Football Federation on the ongoing challenges facing their respective countries.
“As we celebrate our collective successes, let us also carry the responsibility of standing with our members in times of hardship — ensuring that football remains a source of hope, resilience, and unity for all.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1760678075labto1760678075ofdlr1760678075owedi1760678075sni@n1760678075osloh1760678075cin.l1760678075uap1760678075
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