Iran hire Wilmots to fill coaching gap left by Queiroz
May 23 – Marc Wilmots will succeed Carlos Queiroz as coach of Iran in a four-year deal 50-year-old signed with the Iranian Football Federation on Wednesday.
Tag: Asia
Sparks fly as Queiroz accuses Iranian federation of non-payment and weak support
May 2 – The eight-year tenure of Carlos Queiroz as manager of the Iranian team was often controversial, always mercurial, frequently successful, but ultimately disappointing with the country failing to win the 2019 Asian Cup, a target both Queiroz and the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) knew was within their grasp. Queiroz’s leaving of his position has been equally emotionally charged.
AFC: Salman re-elected, Qatar’s Al-Mohannadi completes long journey to FIFA Council
By Paul Nicholson
April 8 – AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term. He became the third confederation president to be re-elected unopposed for a new four year this year following UEFA’s return of Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf’s Victor Montagliani.
Qatar’s Al Mohannadi withdraws to leave Salman with clear run to AFC presidency
March 29 – Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa will govern Asian football for another four years after his final challenger for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presidency, Qatar’s Saoud Al Mohannadi, withdrew his candidacy.
Indian women extend SAFF unbeaten run to 23 games to take 5th title
March 25 – India retained their SAFF women’s crown by defeating Nepal 3-1 in the final to win the tournament for a fifth consecutive time.
Al Romaithi leans on political rather than football influence in his AFC election push
By Paul Nicholson
March 11 – The credentials and track record of the UAE’s Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi in his bid to win the AFC presidency next month are coming under increasing scrutiny with growing concern that his geo-political motivation for the role outweighs his commitment to football in the region.
Malaysia to host inaugural Airmarine Cup in advance of 2022 World Cup qualifiers
February 25 – Malaysia, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Oman will compete in the inaugural Airmarine 2019 Cup in Malaysia in March.
Asian Champions League qualifiers get underway
February 5 – The Asian Cup may only have just finished, but there is little respite for Asia’s players as the qualifiers for this year’s AFC Asian Champions League, the continent’s premier club competition, get underway today.
Spurs fans caned as Harry injured and Son rises at Asian Cup
January 16 – In a devastating blow to his club Tottenham Hotspur, England captain Harry Kane has been sidelined until early March with yet another ankle ligament injury.
Little teams, big deeds. UAE 2019 is opening up a whole new football eco-system
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 10 – The 17th and biggest ever Asian Cup currently being hosted in the UAE completed its first round of group games yesterday. Expanded from 16 to 24 teams, this is a competition that is opening a remarkable new world of football frontiers. It has spotlighted countries too often on the periphery of global football and is generating stories, new legend and football history every day.
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).
AFC to debut VAR from knockout stages at Asian Cup this month
January 4 – Asia is striking a blow for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system by introducing it in the knockout stages of the Asian Cup that gets under way this weekend.
Exclusive: 75% of the UAE Asian Cup 2019 players will be newcomers
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 2 – Out of the 552 players in the Asian Cup 2019, to be staged in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1, about 75% are taking part in the Asian football showpiece for the first time.
Japan’s Makoto Hasebe picks up AFC International Player of the Year Award
December 18 – Former Japan captain Makoto Hasebe was presented with the Asian Football Confederation’s 2018 Asian International Player of the Year award at Eintracht Frankfurt’s Commerzbank Arena on Sunday.
Vietnam make second leg advantage count to beat Malaysia to win Suzuki Cup
December 17 – Vietnam defeated Malaysia 1-0 on Saturday to claim a second Suzuki Cup 3-2 on aggregate. Nguyen Anh Duc scored the deciding goal early on in Hanoi.