AFC chairman Shaikh Salman acknowledged football’s social duty and pledged support for Palestine

16 October – AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, while reflecting on the successes of AFC member countries over the past year, also reminded his national associations that football has a social role and that their solidarity and support for Palestine, Nepal and the Philippines is crucial to rebuilding these countries.

Shaikh Salman was speaking after the AFC executive committee meeting which concluded 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, marked by solidarity and broad support from the confederation. He said support was needed again as Palestine began the rebuilding process after a ceasefire was agreed with Israel, as Nepal emerged from a period of deadly political protests and the Philippines began the recovery process after an earthquake hit the country.

“Our meeting in Riyadh is a reflection of the unity and progress we continue to achieve together. However, this also reminds us that football does not stand alone. Football is shaped by the challenges, struggles and victories of our society,” said Salman.

The whole world has watched Israel obliterate Gaza with leaked Israeli military intelligence reportedly saying that more than 200,000 Palestinians have been killed or seriously injured in the conflict – 80% of them civilians. As many as 1.9 million of the total population of 2.1 million people have become refugees.

“We must stand with our members in these difficult times to ensure that football remains a force of unity and resilience. I would like to once again express our solidarity with the Palestinian FA and extend my deepest sympathies to all the victims in Gaza. While we are all relieved by the recent announcement of peace in Gaza, I would like to reassure the Palestinian FA of our full support as they continue to rebuild their football activities, protect their players and officials, and keep the spirit of the game alive in these challenging circumstances challenge this,” said Salman.

While the bombing may have stopped, Israel’s military attacks on Gaza and their increasing aggression in the West Bank against Palestinians have not.

The Palestinian FA (PFA) for more than 10 years has complained about the Israeli FA repeatedly violating FIFA laws but remaining unpunished. Prior to the FIFA Congress in Paraguay, the AFC and Salman called on FIFA to take an early resolution of the PFA’s long-standing complaints to FIFA regarding clubs carrying out illegal settlements in the West Bank playing in Israeli leagues.

FIFA barely acknowledged the complaints in Congress despite a speech from the PFA’s Susan Shalabi that was greeted with spontaneous applause by national federations. Within 90 seconds of the applause ending, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom brutally pushed the issue to the forefront by saying that this was an issue that should be resolved by ‘competent’ FIFA authorities. Grafstrom is boldly pictured front and center in pictures of the post-AFC executive committee.

In his comments, Salman also conveyed “our full support and sympathy to the All Nepal Football Association and the Philippine Football Federation for the challenges currently facing their respective countries.

“As we celebrate our collective success, let us also assume the responsibility to stand with our members in difficult times – ensuring that football remains a source of hope, resilience and unity for all.”

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