Comments from AFC Press Conference This Week
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Comments from AFC Press Conference This Week
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just general stuff raised this week in Korea.
http://www.the-afc.com/en/inside-afc/676-afc-news/27042-notes-from-afc-presidents-media-conference
http://www.the-afc.com/en/inside-afc/676-afc-news/27042-notes-from-afc-presidents-media-conference
SEOUL: Flanked by FIFA
Vice-President and AFC Executive Committee Dr Chung Mong-joon and Korea
Football Association (KFA) President Cho Chung-yung, AFC President
Mohamed Bin Hammam addressed a media conference here at KFA House on
Tuesday.
The questions from the floor were wide-ranging in nature, spanning Asian nations� bids for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the other contenders, Dream Asia, and Asian candidacy for the position of FIFA President.
Notes from the press conference
On his visit and meeting with Korea Republic President Lee Myung-bak
Mohamed Bin Hammam: I am honoured and very glad to be here in Korea. I am touched by the reception I received from Dr Chung Mong-joon, KFA President Cho Chung-yung, the media and the football fans of Korea. I also took the opportunity to visit the Blue House and meet His Excellency, the President of Korea, Lee Myung-bak. We discussed the importance of sports, in general, and football, in particular. His Excellency the President explained in detail the efforts of Korea Republic to host the 2022 World Cup.
On the Korean bid for the 2022 World Cup
Mohamed Bin Hammam: I can understand why Korea wants to host the World Cup alone now after co-hosting it in 2002. I understand the reason behind the bid - it is a noble reason. The Government and KFA are fully behind the bid. The concept is one of bringing peace to the Korean peninsula through football. Hosting the World Cup is the right of all nations. And Korea have expressed a very legitimate wish.
Priority to bring World Cup to Asia
Mohamed Bin Hammam: For Dr Chung and myself, the first priority is to bring the World Cup to Asia. Who gets it is secondary. AFC has 46 member Associations and we are representing their interests.
On the Qatar bid�s strengths
Mohamed Bin Hammam: There are so many advantages if Qatar gets to host the World Cup. All the group matches can be played in venues which are within reasonable distance of each other. So one can watch more than one group match the same day. Secondly, Qatar will be representing the wishes and hopes of the Middle-East. The Middle-East also has the legitimate right to seek peace through football and an event like the World Cup can replace the sorry story of wars.
Asian candidate for FIFA Presidency
Mohamed Bin Hammam: We would like to see an Asian as the President of FIFA. This represents and reflects the importance of our continent. The AFC�s slogan is �The Future is Asia�. And this is true in all spheres of the sport. I believe that the time has come for an Asian to come forward for this position. And there is more than one potential candidate available from Asia to lead world football. When we have that person I hope the whole of Asia will unite behind him.
On Dr Chung
Mohamed Bin Hammam: We have had our differences. We have used our differences for the benefit of Asian football. Today, our agreements are more than our differences. Now I and Dr Chung have more agreements than differences. I have to thank Dr Chung for making this happen because in our Executive Committee meeting in November 2009 he told all the members that the past was past and it was time to re-unite behind the AFC President.
On AFC�s social responsibility project Dream Asia
Mohamed Bin Hammam: AFC cannot build stadiums but we can support all good ideas for peace through football. The concept is not to build infrastructure because AFC right now is not capable of doing that. The idea is to promote peace.
The questions from the floor were wide-ranging in nature, spanning Asian nations� bids for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the other contenders, Dream Asia, and Asian candidacy for the position of FIFA President.
Notes from the press conference
On his visit and meeting with Korea Republic President Lee Myung-bak
Mohamed Bin Hammam: I am honoured and very glad to be here in Korea. I am touched by the reception I received from Dr Chung Mong-joon, KFA President Cho Chung-yung, the media and the football fans of Korea. I also took the opportunity to visit the Blue House and meet His Excellency, the President of Korea, Lee Myung-bak. We discussed the importance of sports, in general, and football, in particular. His Excellency the President explained in detail the efforts of Korea Republic to host the 2022 World Cup.
On the Korean bid for the 2022 World Cup
Mohamed Bin Hammam: I can understand why Korea wants to host the World Cup alone now after co-hosting it in 2002. I understand the reason behind the bid - it is a noble reason. The Government and KFA are fully behind the bid. The concept is one of bringing peace to the Korean peninsula through football. Hosting the World Cup is the right of all nations. And Korea have expressed a very legitimate wish.
Priority to bring World Cup to Asia
Mohamed Bin Hammam: For Dr Chung and myself, the first priority is to bring the World Cup to Asia. Who gets it is secondary. AFC has 46 member Associations and we are representing their interests.
On the Qatar bid�s strengths
Mohamed Bin Hammam: There are so many advantages if Qatar gets to host the World Cup. All the group matches can be played in venues which are within reasonable distance of each other. So one can watch more than one group match the same day. Secondly, Qatar will be representing the wishes and hopes of the Middle-East. The Middle-East also has the legitimate right to seek peace through football and an event like the World Cup can replace the sorry story of wars.
Asian candidate for FIFA Presidency
Mohamed Bin Hammam: We would like to see an Asian as the President of FIFA. This represents and reflects the importance of our continent. The AFC�s slogan is �The Future is Asia�. And this is true in all spheres of the sport. I believe that the time has come for an Asian to come forward for this position. And there is more than one potential candidate available from Asia to lead world football. When we have that person I hope the whole of Asia will unite behind him.
On Dr Chung
Mohamed Bin Hammam: We have had our differences. We have used our differences for the benefit of Asian football. Today, our agreements are more than our differences. Now I and Dr Chung have more agreements than differences. I have to thank Dr Chung for making this happen because in our Executive Committee meeting in November 2009 he told all the members that the past was past and it was time to re-unite behind the AFC President.
On AFC�s social responsibility project Dream Asia
Mohamed Bin Hammam: AFC cannot build stadiums but we can support all good ideas for peace through football. The concept is not to build infrastructure because AFC right now is not capable of doing that. The idea is to promote peace.
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Thanks for posting. In translation:
1. I have to say nice things about the Korean bid, peace is just hollow talk because the North wouldn't get any games, and I'm not going to say anything else specific and positive.
2. Qatar: I can list a specific reason why Qatar would be a good idea, of course I hope they get it.
3. It's all about me.
4. It's all about me.
5. Dream Asia is not about me so more waffly hot air on this one.
1. I have to say nice things about the Korean bid, peace is just hollow talk because the North wouldn't get any games, and I'm not going to say anything else specific and positive.
2. Qatar: I can list a specific reason why Qatar would be a good idea, of course I hope they get it.
3. It's all about me.
4. It's all about me.
5. Dream Asia is not about me so more waffly hot air on this one.
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Thanks for posting. In translation:1. I have to say nice things about the Korean bid, peace is just hollow talk because the North wouldn't get any games, and I'm not going to say anything else specific and positive.2. Qatar: I can list a specific reason why Qatar would be a good idea, of course I hope they get it.3. It's all about me.4.� It's all about me.5. Dream Asia is not about me so more waffly hot air on this one.
Ditto my thoughts as well.
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Mohamed Bin Hammam is just a typical FIFA power player, his dream is to be the President. He'll change the rules to get Blatter out and then he'll change the rules so he can stay as long (or longer) as Blatter did... but in the mean time he could really slam-dunk little old NZ into the world football retards' bin... what has NZ done to Qatar?
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