PETALING JAYA: Australia are set to be affiliated to the Asean Football Federation (AFF) soon.
Newly-appointed AFF secretary general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said that they would hold an EGM at next month’s council meeting to deliberate on Football Federation Australia’s application.
“The Football Federation of Australia had applied a long time ago to be the 12th member of the AFF. The AFF have deliberated over the matter and it is more or less finalised before we endorse their affiliation at the EGM,” said Azzuddin yesterday.
However, the Australian national team are not eligible to play in the biennial Suzuki Cup AFF competition.
Azzuddin said the agreement was that they would be allowed to participate in all other AFF activities except for the Suzuki Cup – open to national teams.
“Australia will be able to take part in all AFF age-group events, futsal and women’s football competitions. We will surely benefit from their presence and their technical assistance in raising the image of the game. We will be able to learn from their expertise from the Australia Institute of Sports (AIS),” said Azzuddin.
Meanwhile, the AFF are expected to launch the Asean Super League (ASL) for clubs in 2015. Each affiliate will be represented by two clubs playing in an eight-month long competition.
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