|
Hammam wants ban on Euro teams touring during 2011 Asian Cup |
|
|
|
|
Written by Qatar2011.com
|
|
Thursday, 05 July 2007 |
AFC president Hammam wants ban on Euro teams touring during 2011 Asian Cup BANGKOK: Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam plans to work with UEFA and the top European leagues to implement a ban on teams touring the continent during the Asian Cup.
He wants it in place for the 2011 finals, expected to be hosted by Qatar, following the controversy over Manchester United’s tour to the region this month, which clashes with the 2007 edition of the tournament.
United were forced to cancel one of their matches, in Kuala Lumpur, after pressure from bin Hammam and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
As a co-host, the Football Association of Malaysia had committed not to hold any other football games during the course of the Asian Cup finals.
While bin Hammam had success in derailing the Malaysia match, United’s other games in Japan, South Korea and Macau will go ahead, as will the Peace Cup in South Korea and the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong this month.
All are expected to draw attention away from the Asian Cup and bin Hammam is determined that it will not happen again.
“Yes, it is feasible,” he said when asked by AFP if a total ban was possible on European teams touring the region during the 2011 finals.
“We will be in discussions, either (to ban tours) in the 16 countries participating in the finals or all of Asia. It will be discussed and settled by the end of this year. It is a priority issue to be discussed.
“I will seek understanding between the Asian confederation and UEFA and all major leagues in Europe to protect the month of the Asian Cup in 2011.
“We have two windows to organise our competition. It is the calendar FIFA has drawn up. We cannot organise our competition unless it is in June or July or January, when many European leagues have a break.
“We respect this calendar and we are expecting understanding from the major clubs in Europe and the major leagues in Europe, so I don’t think we will be having any problems in 2011. We are going to resolve it well in advance.”
Qatar is the only nation to have lodged a bid to host the 2011 finals after Iran and India pulled out.
Given the searing heat in the Gulf state in June and July, January would be the only feasible time to hold the competition.
This raises the prospect of a club versus country row with the English Premier League not breaking for winter. (You can buy Premiere League Jerseys and all sport gears and equipements online at The All Sport Store)
Bin Hammam, though, said he was not concerned.
“No, not at all because this is part of the FIFA calendar that we can organise the competition in January, with the support of the major leagues in the world.” (AFP)
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 January 2008 )
|
The Asian Games