Doha: The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has urged the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to uphold transparency and consultation consistently to maintain credibility and reinforce trust among member associations.
According to Qatar News Agency, the call from the QFA was made through an official letter by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, President of the QFA, to the Asian Confederation. The letter addressed the joint statement issued on August 10 by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), and the AFC. The QFA highlighted that transparency and institutional governance are crucial for positions and statements issued in the name of national member associations of the AFC.
HE Sheikh Hamad clarified that the QFA was not consulted, neither formally nor informally, prior to the issuance of the joint statement. The QFA was not provided any prior notice or draft of the statement and had no opportunity to comment on or contribute to its content before it was published in the name of the AFC and on behalf of its members. He emphasized that any collective stance of the member associations should be based on a clear consultation process, and a collective consensus should not be assumed without consulting the members.
The QFA President stressed the need to adhere to proper institutional procedures, governance standards, and transparency. He noted that issuing a statement on behalf of AFC members without consultation raises questions about the mechanism used in adopting such positions.
HE Sheikh Hamad requested a written clarification from the AFC concerning the consultation process that preceded the statement's issuance, the mechanism for notifying or consulting national member associations, and the basis upon which the AFC spoke collectively on behalf of its members.
He concluded the letter by emphasizing the importance of addressing the matter constructively to preserve the unity of Asian associations and enhance trust and cooperation among them. Notably, the presidents of six Arab football associations, including Qatar, Egypt, and Morocco, have previously expressed support for Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, affirming their backing for his leadership and development efforts in international football.