OFA supports Saudi bid to host Fifa 2034

MUSCAT: The Oman Football Association (OFA) along with other Asian Football Confederation members have voiced support for Saudi Arabia's bid for 2034 World Cup during an online meeting of the AFC on Wednesday.

Qutaiba al Ghailani, a member of OFA, Mohammed bin Sulaiman al Yahmadi, Secretary-General, and Farah bint Hamad, Director of International Relations, represented Oman Football Association.

The meeting was held to select the presidents, vice-presidents and members for the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, AFC Appeals Committee and the AFC Entry Control Body.

AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa said that the Asian football body has emerged as a model of excellence: “The AFC has evolved into an excellence model in upholding ethical standards in recent years, so even as we elect our new members, we must take a moment to thank all those who have served Asian football with distinction, I have every faith that those elected today will continue to build on their proud legacy.”

In a clear view of Asian solidarity, the AFC members expressed their support and desire to stand behind Saudi Arabia as confirmed by the AFC President to obtain the rights to host the Fifa World Cup in 2034.

Iran's Jahangir Baglari was elected as the president of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, and Chinese Shen Rui became vice-president. Japan's Kengo Harima, Malaysia's Saaran Nadarajah, Ismail Zumayl Rasheed from the Maldives, Guillermo Biroy Jr of the Philippines, Saudi Arabia's Bandar al Hamidani and the United Arab Emirates' Saeed bin Mohammed al Houti were elected as the members.

The AFC Appeals Committee will be headed by Qatar's Salman al Ansari, Vietnam's Nguyen Thi My Dung as deputy, and India's Vaibhav Jajjar, South Korea's Dong-Ho Lim, Lebanon's Ali Mohammed Mhaydle and Abdulsalim Ahmed Ibrahim as members.

China's Liu Chi was elected as chairperson for the AFC Entry Control Body with Danilo M Rapadas as the first deputy, Syria's Feras al Mustafa as the second deputy, the Australia's Alexander J Davani as the third deputy and Uzbekistan's Olimjonov Umidjon Bakhodirjonovich as the fourth deputy.

AFC representatives voted on the auditors’ report for 2022, 2023 and 2024 budgets, which witnessed a significant increase in investments across the AFC competitions.