AFC Player of the Year 2009 Shortlist Announced

The Asian Football Confederation has announced the first shortlist of 15 players in contention for the prestigious AFC 2009 Player of the Year award

The recipient of the award will be chosen based on points earned at various AFC and FIFA tournaments. The winner will be announced on November 24 in a grand function at the Shangri-la Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

NOMINEES FOR AFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2009 (in alphabetical order)
NAME NATIONALITY NATIONAL TEAM
CLUB
Alexander Geynrikh UZB Uzbekistan Pakhtakor, UZB
Ali Ashfaq MDV Maldives VB, MDV
Baba Malick QAT Qatar Umm Salal, Qatar
Firas Al Khatib SYR Syria Al Arabi/Al Qadsiya, KUW
Hadi Aghily IRN Iran Sepahan, IRN
Hong Yong Jo PRK DPR Korea Rostov, RUS
Kengo Nakamura JPN Japan Kawasaki Frontale, JPN
Li Weifeng CHN - Suwon Bluewings, KOR
Markus Rihihina IDN Indonesia PSMS Medan, IDN
Maya Yoshida JPN - Nagoya Grampus, JPN
Mohammed Noor KSA Saudi Arabia Al Ittihad, KSA
Nassir Al Shamrani KSA Saudi Arabia Al Shabab, KSA
Ri Myong Guk PRK DPR Korea Pyongyang Athletics Club, PRK
Sayed Mohamed Adnan BHR Bahrain Al Khor, QAT
Yasuhito Endo JPN Japan Gamba Osaka, JPN

2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers

FIFA World Cup 2010 Asian Qualifying Match Day 10 kicks off tonight with competition expected to be fierce for the last of four guaranteed berths in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals to be held in South Africa next year.

Group A sees Japan and Australia playing a dead rubber in Melbourne. Both have already qualified for South Africa and are expected to field under strength teams in order to test their second string players. Bahrain and Uzbekistan play the other Group A match with Bahrain only needing a draw to finish third in the group and earn a place in the second chance playoff. Uzbekistan can still finish third with a win tonight and Qatar has been eliminated.

Group B will reveal Asia's fourth automatic qualifier tonight with Korea DPR, I.R. Iran and Saudi Arabia still in contention. Korea DPR will travel to KSA and if they qualify, it will be the first time ever that both Koreas play in the same FIFA World Cup. Korea Republic having already qualified, will host I.R. Iran in the final game of Match Day 10.

Australia Launches Bid to Host FIFA World Cup Finals

Australia has officially launched it's bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Canberra today.

Drawing largely on Australia's membership of the Asian Football Confederation, Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman Frank Lowy has stated that the people of Australia are the “secret weapon”.

“We believe this bid is realistic and it’s achievable,” he told an audience of politicians, media, past, present and aspiring Socceroos and FFA partners.

“On the world stage, there is no event with the same level of global appeal or audience reach as the FIFA World Cup™.

Mr Lowy said that the cumulative global television audience in 2006 was 26.2 billion with the single largest audience group coming from the Asian Football Confederation, of which Australia is a member.

“Asia is on the rise economically, in terms of goods and services and in football,” he said.

“Australia is part of the Asian Football Confederation and is in the Asian time zone.”

But Mr Lowy said that Australia’s “secret weapon” is the Australian people, and Australia as a destination.

“People from all over the world want to visit our country.

FFA also unveiled a promotional film which showcases Australia as a destination, as well as its football and event hosting credentials, encouraging the world to ‘Come Play!’.

The film showcases the Qantas Socceroos as well as a ball travelling around Australia visiting every state and territory showcasing cities, stadia, the outback, wineries and beaches with everyday Australians in a playful mood.

“We have many milestones between today and when the decision is made and we hope that all Australians can join this bid 100 per cent.”

FFA will be required to make a final presentation to FIFA, football’s world governing body, in December 2010 prior to a decision behind made.

Aus2018 and AsianFC.com fully support Australia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup finals in 2018 and 2022 and urge all readers to do likewise. Join the official website www.australia2018-2022.com.au and urge your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.

Australia 2018 FIFA World Cup Launch Video

Three Members of the AFC Book Their Berths in South Africa

Three members of the Asian Football Confederation have now guaranteed their places at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals in South Africa.

Japan qualified after defeating Uzbekistan 1-0 in Tashkent, Korea Republic following their 2-0 win over UAE and Australia's 0-0 draw with Qatar in Doha gave it the vital point needed to guarantee the Socceroo's place in the finals.

Speaking from Doha, Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO, Ben Buckley, said that qualifying for a second consecutive FIFA World Cup was a fantastic achievement.

"It's another first for Australian Football"

"Qualifying this time around, with the travel and match conditions the team has experienced, is a true measure of the progress football has made."

Whilst Japan and Korea Republic have made regular appearances at the finals, this is only the third time for Australia and the first as a member of the AFC.

2018 FIFA World Cup: Asian Nations Challenge Each Other

With Japan signaling its interest in hosting the 2018/2022 FIFA Word Cup Finals, Asia may find itself out of the race before it even begins.

Although Australia is the only AFC member to officially announce its bid, China and Qatar have also shown interest. If all four (including Japan) submit formal applications it is likely that the region's support will be divided and all will miss out.

Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamad Bin Hammam has indicated that he only wants one official bid from the region to ensure the greatest chance of success. This may mean endorsing the strongest bid and encouraging all others to withdraw.

FIFA will select the hosts for 2018 and 2022 in 2010.

Socceroos Defeat The Netherlands

Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy have both scored in Australia's win against The Netherlands in Eindhoven this morning (Australian time).

In front of a crowd of over 22,000, the Dutch took an early lead with Klaas Jan Huntelaar finding the back of the net in the sixth minute. It wasn't until the 42nd minute when Harry Kewell evened the score with a penalty following the Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenberg receiving a red card for a foul on Josh Kennedy.

Kennedy put the Aussies in front with a header in the 76th minute.

Whilst pleased with the result against the world's 4th ranked Football nation, Socceroos' coach Pim Verbeek is focused on Australia's upcoming AFC World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan on Wednesday night.

MATCH DETAILS

Netherlands,1 (Klaas Jan Huntelaar 6') - Australia, 2 (Harry Kewell 42' pen, Josh Kennedy 76')

Saturday 6 September 2008
Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Referee: Mr Martin Atkinson (England)
Assistant Referees: Mr Philip Sharp (England) & Mr Muhammed Matadar (England)
Fourth Official: Mr Tom van Sichem ( Netherlands)

Netherlands line-up: 1.Maarten Stekelenberg (gk), 2. John Heitinga, 3. Andre Ooijer, 4.Joris Mathijsen, 5.Giovanni van Bronckhorst (c), 6. Mark van Bommel, 7.Robin van Persie, 8.Nigel de Jong, 9.Klaas Jan Huntelaar (16. Henk Timmer 42'), 10.Rafael van der Vaart (17. Ibrahim Afellay 70'), 11.Ryan Babel (18. Jan Vennegor of Hesselink 83')

Australia line-up: 1.Mark Schwarzer (gk), 2.Lucas Neill (c), 5.Jason Culina (17. Jacob Burns 78'), 7.Brett Emerton (23. Mark Bresciano 46'), 8.Luke Wilkshire, 9.Joshua Kennedy (20. Richard Garcia 78') ,10.Harry Kewell (21. Mile Sterjovski 46'), 11.David Carney, 13.Chris Coyne (6. Michael Beauchamp 70'), 14.Carl Valeri, 16.Brett Holman (15. Bruce Djite 70')

58th FIFA Congress.

The 58th FIFA Congress has kicked off in Sydney tonight with a lavish ceremony at the Sydney Opera House.

Representatives from 208 National Football Associations as well as the six Continental Confederations attended the Opening Ceremony along with other dignitaries including the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Kevin Rudd.

FIFA President, Mr Joseph Blatter opened the proceedings by announcing that the Iraqi Football Association ban had been provisionally lifted meaning that the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Australia in Brisbane next week can go ahead. This announcement was met with applause throughout the auditorium.

Mr Blatter also touched on one of the major topics for the Congress tomorrow. Plans have been tabled to limit the number of international players in National Football Associations ensuring that fans get to see their own national players in local leagues.

Mr Rudd opened his address to the congregation by acknowledging the traditional Aboriginal landowners, as well as the Peoples of Burma and China who have recently suffered natural disasters. He continued by mentioning the fact that Australia’s “extraordinary cultural diversity…” was a perfect fit for the “most global sport of all” and that Australia’s population could almost host its own World Cup. Mr. Rudd committed the Federal Government’s full support for Australia’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

Prior to leaving the stage, Mr Rudd was presented a FIFA Medallion from President Blatter.

Football federation Australia’s President, Mr Frank Lowy praised the Prime Minister for exceeding his re-election commitment to doubling the national funding for football in Australia. He mentioned that hosting the FIFA Congress coincided with a resurgence of football in Australia and expressed his desire to bring Australia into the mainstream football community.

The 58th FIFA Congress continues in Sydney tomorrow.

FIFA Lifts Iraq Suspension

The FIFA Emergency Committee has today, Thursday, 29 May 2008, decided to provisionally and conditionally lift the suspension imposed on the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) on 26 May due to serious governmental interference after decree no. 184/2008 of 20 May had dissolved the governing bodies of the Iraqi National Olympic Committee (NOC) and all national sports federations, including the IFA, and set up an “interim committee” presided over by the Minister of Sport.

Since then, the situation has changed. Yesterday, 28 May 2008, FIFA received a letter from the General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Iraq, confirming that the IFA had been “excluded” from the above-mentioned decree, thereby re-establishing the statutory order of the Iraqi association and its leaders, who will “continue their activities inside and outside Iraq till legal election [within the IFA]”.

This letter is a positive step, however it does not fully answer all of FIFA’s concerns about the governmental attempts to control the Iraqi federations and the Iraqi National Olympic Committee.

Therefore, FIFA has decided to lift the suspension imposed on the IFA, but on a purely provisional and conditional basis. This means that FIFA:
- may re-impose the suspension immediately if article 17 of the FIFA Statutes is violated again;
- will invite a delegation consisting of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the IFA and representatives of the Iraqi government to Zurich as soon as possible to clarify all outstanding issues;
- will continue to coordinate the steps it has taken with regard to the IFA, a body that is an important member of the Iraqi National Olympic Committee, with the efforts taken by the IOC to ensure that the Olympic Charter is applied to the entire Iraqi Olympic and sporting movement.

Sydney Welcomes FIFA

Following a number of preliminary meetings, the FIFA Congress officially commences in Sydney, Australia tonight.

The 58th FIFA Congress will kick off with an opening ceremony at the Sydney Opera House to be attended by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and international delegates from FIFA’s 208 member federations.

"This is a chance to meet all the FIFA members in our own backyard," Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO, Ben Buckley, said.

During the official two day conference delegates will consider a number of changes to regulations including the introduction of a ‘6+5’ rule aimed at ensuring all domestic leagues have a minimum of six players eligible for the national team of the country of the league.

The Opening Ceremony will be a blend of vision packages and live performances promoting FIFA’s three pillars: ‘Develop the Game’, ‘Touch the World’ and ‘Build a Better Future’.

A purpose built stage including a 16.5 x 3.5m LED screen is one of the largest sets to have been used in the Concert Hall and has taken three days to construct.

Buckley is confident FIFA will enjoy the opportunity to experience Australian hospitality and see the growing enthusiasm for football in Australia first hand.

"Hopefully, they will walk away from the Congress with a positive feeling about Sydney and Australia and where the game has got to over the past few years – as well as where the game is going.”