Malaysian Tigers

KUALA LUMPUR: AFC president Mohamed Hammam insisted yesterday he had nothing against Malaysia and would be happy to keep the governing body’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

But the Qatari said the government must formalise their relationship.

Hammam has asked the Asian Football Confederation’s 46 member nations to table bids to host AFC House, and Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are said to be keen.

The decision has sparked an angry response from Malaysian officials, with former long-time AFC general secretary Peter Velappan calling it a “foolish” proposal that would “destroy the unity and solidarity of Asian football.”

Velappan said the move was aimed at punishing Malaysia for inviting Manchester United to play a friendly during the Asian Cup tournament last year, deflecting interest from the AFC’s premier event.

Hammam said there simply needed to be a more formal understanding between the AFC and the Malaysian government if the headquarters was to remain here.

“The main reason is not to shift the AFC from Kuala Lumpur or Malaysia,” he said.

“The reason is for Malaysia and for all other countries to come up with a memorandum of understanding, a protocol, or agreement to regularise the existence of the AFC and its territories.

“We have not talked about shifting, we have only issued an offer to all the 46 nations to bid for AFC House, including Malaysia.

“We currently exist here, but there is nothing regularising the relationship between the AFC and the government, or the AFC and the national association.

“So this is what has been requested and is required. This is the aim of myself and the executive committee. I have nothing against Malaysia at all. I’d be happy to stay here.”

Malaysia, which has been home to the AFC since 1965, said it will not bid to keep the governing body here, blaming “excessive demands” from Hammam, which reportedly include diplomatic status for himself and the AFC’s top officers.

The list is also said to include personal tax exemption for non-Malaysian AFC staff, a new office, and interest-free loans.

Hammam sidestepped the issue of demands, instead focusing on the need for the AFC to become a more legitimate entity.

Asked whether he would prefer to have the headquarters in the Gulf, he replied: “I would not hesitate to go anywhere. Any country, any land for me is Asia, so I am not influenced by this sort of talk.”

The AFC are to discuss the issue during their annual meeting in Shanghai next week. — AFP