Mongolia feels the warmth of FIFA with opening of Air Dome
April 14 – Mongolia opened its Air Dome last week with its U-17 women’s national team playing Hong Kong in a friendly.
Federations
Chinese state opens two more investigations into FA officials
March 24 – China’s scandal-plagued federation has been rocked by new corruption probes into its chiefs of discipline and competition.
India to return to staging of Santosh Trophy at home after last edition in Saudi Arabia
March 15 – The secretary general of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Shaij Prabhakaran has defended his organisation’s decision to return the Santosh Trophy to India after playing the last edition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Iran pick Ghalenoei to lead team into Asian Cup, starting with Russian friendly on March 23
March 14 – After months of speculation, Iran have named Amir Ghalenoei (pictured) as the successor to Carlos Queiroz to lead Team Melli until the 2023 Asian Cup that will be played in Qatar next January.
Indonesian court jails match officials over 135 deaths in Kanjuruhan stadium disaster
March 9 – An Indonesian court has handed prison sentences to two match officials after finding them guilty of negligence over one of the world’s deadliest stadium disasters.
AFC members join for region-wide day of activity to embrace International Women’s Day
March 8 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has embraced International Women’s Day with a series of activities co-ordinated across its member associations.
Chinese FA tells Super League clubs to set up women’s teams or risk exclusion from CSL
February 16 – The Chinese Football Association (CFA) have demanded top flight men’s clubs establish a women’s team as part of license requirements to compete in the 2023 season.
Former Inter owner turned government minister, Erick Thohir, takes over at Indonesian FA
February 16 – Erick Thohir, a senior cabinet minister and a former chairman of Inter Milan, is the new head of Indonesian football with the task of totally reforming the game months after the country suffered one of the world’s deadliest stadium stampedes.
Chinese FA boss Chen Shuyuan arrested on corruption charges
February 15 – The head of the Chinese FA has been arrested on corruption charges in a massive blow to the country’s reputation and efforts to grow its international standing, including potentially launching a World Cup bid.
Queiroz takes the reins at Qatar with first task being defense of Asian Cup
February 7 – Carlos Queiroz will lead Qatar until the 2026 World Cup, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) have announced.
Saudis build women’s programme with launch of first U17 squad
February 7: Criticism of FIFA’s proposed sponsorship deal for the 2023 Women’s World Cup with the Saudi Arabia tourist board has been loud, but domestically the Saudi’s look to be making all the right moves to provide more opportunity for women in football.
AFC backs Pakistan’s Hayat and tells government to back off
January 7 – The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) executive committee has condemned third-party interference in running of the affairs of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and has promised its support to ousted PFF president Faisal Saleh Hyatt (pictured).
Argentinean Pizzi flown in to lead Saudi Arabia’s Falcons to Russia 2018
September 29 – Juan Antonio Pizzi has been unveiled as Saudi Arabia’s new head coach following last week’s departure of previous incumbent and fellow Argentinean Edgardo Bauza.
India rejigs coaching teams for U17 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers
By Samindra Kunti
February 17 – Savio Madeira has been appointed as the new technical director of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) succeeding Scott O’Donnell. Senior coach Stephen Constantine will take over at the U17 team on an interim basis as the hunt for a new coach continues.
Football hotbed Goa loses spot at Indian football federation’s top table
By Samindra Kunti
December 16 – One of the regional heartbeats of Indian football, Goa, is becoming alienated from the domestic game, as three clubs from the region have withdrawn from the I-league and the executive committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has axed its Goa
representative.
