Vietnam representative re-elected to AFC Standing Committee

On April 6 in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held its 29th congress for the 2019-2023 term.

The delegation representing the Vietnam Football Federation attending the Congress also included VFF Permanent Vice President Tran Quoc Tuan, Vice President Cao Van Chong, Standing Member of the Executive Committee Tran Anh Tu and General Secretary Le Hoai Anh.

AFC President Sheikh Salman spent a lot of time summarizing the activities of AFC in the 2015-2019 term. Emphasizing the rise of Asian football at the 2018 World Cup, youth football tournaments organized by FIFA, the development of women's football, and street football.

A typical example is the decision to increase the number of teams participating in the Asian Cup Finals from 16 to 24 teams from 2019, opening up more opportunities for competition and competition for the teams, thereby creating more momentum for the development of continental football.

Vietnamese football is praised

The Asian Football Confederation has 47 association members divided into 5 regions, of which West Asia has 12 members, Central Asia 6, South Asia 7, East Asia 10 and Southeast Asia 12. FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the congress.

In his speech at the congress, FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated the success of the AFC and especially congratulated the Vietnam Football Federation in particular and Vietnamese football in general for the impressive achievements of the Vietnamese national teams in recent years.

At the 29th AFC Congress, Mr. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain), FIFA Vice President, was approved to continue holding the position of AFC President for the 2019 - 2023 term.

Mr. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain) FIFA Vice President was approved to continue holding the position of AFC President for the 2019-2023 term. Photo AFC

Because Mr. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa was the only candidate for this position after two other candidates, Mr. Mohamed Khalfan Matar Saeed Al Romaithi (UAE) and Mr. Saoud A. Aziz MA Al-Mohannadi (Qatar), withdrew from the race, the Congress did not vote but only voted to approve.

Sheikh Salman was first elected as AFC President in 2013, replacing Qatari businessman Mohamed bin Hammam, who was dismissed and banned from football for life for corruption. The former Bahrain Football Association chief was re-elected as AFC President in the 2015 election.

Standing alongside President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa are five Vice Presidents: Mr. Mehdi Taj (Iran, representing the Central Asia region), Mr. Ganbaatar Amgalanbaatar (Mongolia, representing the East Asia region), Mr. Zaw Zaw (Myanmar, representing the Southeast Asia region), Mr. Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat (Pakistan, representing the South Asia region) and Mr. Saoud A. Aziz MA Al-Mohannadi (Qatar, representing the West Asia region).

Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan re-elected to the AFC Standing Committee

VFF Permanent Vice President Tran Quoc Tuan (third from right) was elected to the AFC Standing Committee for the 2019-2023 term. Photo: VFF

The Congress also elected 6 FIFA Council members (including 1 female member): Mr. Du Zhaocai (China), Mr. Praful Patel (India), Mr. Kohzo Tashima (Japan), Mr. Mariano V.Araneta (Philippines), Mr. Saoud A. Aziz MA Al-Mohannadi (Qatar) and Ms. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron (Bangladesh).

After being nominated to the AFC Executive Committee, for the third consecutive time, Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan has been trusted to hold a position in the AFC Standing Committee. This affirms the prestige and voice of VFF with the AFC as well as Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan himself when he was trusted to the AFC Standing Committee from 2011 to present.

Speaking after being re-elected to the AFC Standing Committee for the 2019-2023 term, Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan thanked the Congress for their trust and confidence. At the same time, he affirmed that he will continue to do his best to contribute to the goal of creating stable and sustainable development of Asian football.

AFC President - FIFA Vice President:Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain)

AFC Vice President:Mr. Mehdi Taj (Iran); Mr. Ganbaatar Amgalanbaatar (Mongolia); Mr. Zaw Zaw (Myanmar); Mr. Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat (Pakistan); Mr. Saoud A. Aziz MA Al-Mohannadi (Qatar)

FIFA Council:Mr. Du Zhaocai (China); Mr. Praful Patel (India); Mr. Kohzo Tashima (Japan); Mr. Mariano V. Araneta Jr. (Philippines); Mr. Saoud A. Aziz MA Al-Mohannadi (Qatar); Ms. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron (Bangladesh)

AFC Executive Committee:Mr. Sayed Ali Reza Aghazada (Afghanistan); Mr. Dasho Ugen Tsechup Dorji (Bhutan); Mr. Abed-Alkhaliq Masoud Ahmed (Iraq); Mr. Hachem Haider (Lebanon); Mr. Salem Said Salem Al Wahaibi (Oman); Dr. Hamid Mohammed Ali Al-Shaibani (Yemen); Mr. Chris Nikou (Australia); Dato Haji Hamidin Bin Haji Mohd Amin (Malaysia); Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan (Vietnam); Mr. Fok Kai Shan Eric (Hong Kong)

Female representatives in the AFC Executive Committee:Ms. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron (Bangladesh); Ms. Han Un Gyong (DPRK); Ms. Kanya Keomany (Laos); Ms. Susan RA Alshalabi (Palestine)