Lahore, 26 March : “Fair play is essential to our sport and to everyone involved in it. We need to cherish and nurture the values of sporting spirit and work tirelessly to keep up the momentum. Myself, on behalf of all members, has appealed to players, referees, fans and officials throughout Asia to help praise and promote the spirit of fair play,’ this is stated by Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Chairman of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary Committee during welcome address at AFC House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with members determined to ensure the continued expansion and growth of AFC’s ambitious programs to raise the standard of football in Asia.
The AFC Disciplinary Committee meeting, under Faisal, who is also President of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and Member of Parliament at AFC House, saw discussion of a host of cases involving incidents in various competitions. A total of 46 cases were heard – including one carried over from the previous meeting – involving the AFC Competitions U16 Championship 2010 Qualifiers, Futsal Championship 2010 Qualifiers, U19 Championship Qualifiers, Asian Cup 2011 Qualifiers, Champions League 2010 Group stage and play-offs, Cup Workshop 2010, AFC Cup 2010,
and Futsal Club Championship 2010. One of the key decisions taken was suspension of Kazma’s Khaled Al Shammari for eight matches for spitting at opponents during their AFC Cup tie against Al Jaish on 24 February. Apart from the suspension, the player has also been ordered to pay a fine of US $ 3000.
Faisal also congratulated AFC President, Mohamed bin Hammam for forming a partnership with QuestNet till 2012. “It gives me great pleasure to welcome QuestNet as a new partner of the AFC Champions League and into the fold of the Asian football family. These are exciting times for club football as AFC continue to raise the level of professionalism within our game here in Asia. With the 2009 season setting records for both attendances and viewers, we are glad to have a partner like QuestNet, who will further engage the football fans in this competition.”
Also FIFA Disciplinary Committee member, Faisal achieved milestone when he was appointed as Chairman AFC Disciplinary Committee on 15 July 2009, to fill the void after the departure of Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain) who had stepped down from the post on 1 June 2009. “It is welcome gift for national football body of Pakistan as PFF Chief deserved such reward following his untiring efforts to promote soccer in Pakistan,” said PFF’s Secretary General Lt.Col ® Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi who added that it was first time in entire 63-year history of PFF that country’s soccer official becomes the Head of an AFC Standing Committee.
The function of AFC Disciplinary Committee is to investigates, inquire and take appropriate sanctions against National Associations, club officials or players for any violation of statutes, rules and regulations. It is made up of a chairman, deputy chairman and four members. Currently, it is comprised of Syria’s Dr. Ahmad Jabban (Deputy Chairman) and members Lim Kia Tong (Singapore), Martin Hong (Hong Kong), Jo Setright (Australia) and Toshiro Takii (Japan).
AFC Executive Committee had recognized Faisal Saleh Hayat’s glorious work during AFC 22nd Congress on 8 May 2007 and had re-appointed him as member (later on Chairman) of AFC Disciplinary Committee until 2011. AFC also approved him in AFC Disciplinary Committee (Indonesian Leg) of 14th Asian Football Cup 2007. Indonesia was one of the four nations to organize the AFC’s showpiece event alongwith Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam from 7-29 July 2007.
The football players, referees, coaches and administrators congratulated PFF Chief for chairing important committee and called PFF President’s work for Pakistan soccer is a milestone, calling the tenure from 2003 to 2009 “Golden Years of Pakistan Football”. They believe that Pakistan are making a great leap forward in football, and confident that Faisal will push Pakistani soccer to it’s rightful place and under his leadership Pakistan will provide hard moments to Asian Powerhouses in future. The standard of football in the country is enhancing day by day. Pakistan have got the large pool of footballers and the number is growing with each passing day.