Former top Asian Football Confederaton (AFC) official Peter Velappan yesterday labeled a plan to shift the governing body’s headquarters out of Malaysia as a “foolish move” that would destroy regional unity.
AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam has proposed relocating the organization from its facility on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur and invited applications from the body’s 46 member nations.
But Velappan, who served as AFC secretary-general for 30 years and played a key role in securing the land and funds for the headquarters, said the move would backfire.
“It is a foolish move by bin Hammam. The move is dangerous, as it will destroy the unity and solidarity of Asian football,” he told reporters.
Velappan said South Korea and Japan opposed the plan, along with some Middle Eastern countries like Kuwait and Bahrain.
“All these guys are against the relocation plan,” he said on the sidelines of an international sporting conference.
Velappan, 73, said bin Hammam’s move was aimed at punishing Malaysia for inviting Manchester United to play a friendly during the Asian Cup tournament last year.
“He wants to get back at Malaysia for inviting the Red Devils,” he said.
The AFC strongly criticized Malaysia’s plan, which it saw as drawing attention away from its premier event, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s team eventually dropped the Kuala Lumpur match from their schedule.
Malaysia co-hosted the Asian Cup along with Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
“Malaysia is the epicenter of Asian football. Nobody has complained about having the AFC headquarters in Malaysia,” Velappan said, adding that any attempt to move would “destabilize and disintegrate the Asian football family.”
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