August 29 – Meeting for the first time in Beirut, Lebanon, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Associations Committee has come up with a package of recommendations including regular bilateral meetings between the AFC and its Member Associations to forge closer relationships.
It also agreed to assist the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association in its discussion with FIFA regarding becoming a member.
The AFC Associations Committee is the confederation’s newest standing committee and is tasked primarily to deal with the relationship between the AFC and its Member Associations, including helping member FAs adhere to the statutes.
“This Committee’s role is crucial and directly connected to the ambitious AFC Vision and Mission which sets out Member Association Development as one of its key objectives,” said chair Hachem Haidar, who is also the President of the Lebanese Football Association.
The Northern Mariana Islands Football Association is one of the newest AFC members having joined as associate members in 2009. The NMIFA joined the East Asia Football Federation in 2006 becoming full members in 2008.
They have competed in the EAFF East Asian Cup and attempted to qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup. They recorded their first win in 2014, a surprise 2-1 victory over Macau in EAFF Cup qualifying
Also included in the committee’s key recommendations to the AFC Executive Committee was the introduction of ‘awareness’ workshops in the five AFC zones for government sports officials. The workshops would address the need to protect the autonomy of AFC Member Associations from government influence.
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