The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s resolve to strengthen its partnership on the global stage was further consolidated with the signing of a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) in Manama, Bahrain, today.
Committed to developing football in both regions, the two Confederations will seek to utilise this opportunity to unlock the massive potential that their respective territories possess, by fostering a legacy of cooperation and determination to uphold social, educational, and cultural qualities that are integrally associated with the beautiful game.
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: “This marks the extension of a long-standing and meaningful journey for both the AFC and the Concacaf.”
“Across the globe, we are all united by the same cause – to develop our sport. The AFC has been on a steady upward curve, and I am confident that with this transcontinental agreement, our best days in football are on the horizon.”
The primary objective highlighted in the agreement is the aim to conduct competitions between Member Associations (MAs) of the two governing bodies, mainly through increasing the prospects of conducting competitions for both men’s and women’s national teams and clubs.
Concacaf President Victor Montagliani said: “I am extremely pleased to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding between Concacaf and the AFC. Our two Confederations will continue to collaborate through mutually beneficial initiatives which develop the game in our respective regions.
“I also wish to sincerely congratulate my good friend in football, Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, for his re-election as AFC President. I wish him every success in continuing to grow the game in Asia and look toward to our ongoing work together as FIFA Vice Presidents.”
The agreement also aspires to provide a platform for the two parties to share their multi-faceted expertise, experiences, and resources that can facilitate further development in areas such as Competitions, Coaching, Refereeing, Education, Legal, Communications, Commercial and Marketing, Sports Integrity, Sports Medicine, Technology and Software as well as Social Responsibility, in the two regions.
Furthermore, the MoU lays emphasis on the impact football has on the physical as well as the mental health of both the young and the old and looks to use the sport as a force for promoting the spirit of fair play, team spirit, and respect for others, whilst also nurturing the tenets of social integration, peace, and tolerance.
Source: The-AFC.com
