Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi (right) and Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in conversation. File

Mohammad Abdullah, Staff Reporter

FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino and AFC President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa hailed the UAEFA’s initiative for organising an international convention to discuss the future of football in the post pandemic era on Wednesday.

Chiefs of both the world and the Asian confederations were welcomed on board by UAEFA chief Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi in the opening speech, which got the webinar titled as 'COVID-19 and Football -- How the shape of the future has changed,' underway on Wednesday.

Infantino expressed his happiness to participate in the forum, indicating that it provides a platform to talk about the formation of a better football future after corona.

“I have wonderful memories of the last Asian Cup organised by the UAE with great success, and the country has also organised a number of Club World Cups (CWC).

“We have worked together on many project in the past also. We understand each other and closely monitor health conditions. We know health is always the priority in football and it comes first,” said Infantino.

 “We supported our member federations financially, and developed a global rescue plan worth $150 million,” informed Infantino.

“We had do a bit of tweaking in the playing regulations, players ’contracts and transfers to protect the rights of players and clubs equally. In these difficult times, we also took care of the health of players by raising the number of substitutions per game to five from three.”

“We also postponed many of our tournaments and championships across the globe to the next year with the hope of a better tomorrow after the pandemic ends,” he concluded.

Sheikh Salman said: “The timing of this event is perfect and so is the title: 'COVID-19 and Football -- How the shape of the future has changed.'

“I congratulate the UAEFA, the UAE Pro League and the International Sports Convention for this initiative.

“And that we gather today via video link and webinar rather than meeting in person is the clear indication that the world has changed and changed dramatically.

“In future we will see more such conferences and even the FIFA and AFC meetings and congress will become online events like this excellent initiative by the UAEFA, who under their new leadership have shown themselves to be at the forefront of innovation."

Sheikh Salman, who was joined at the convention by AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John, added: “These have been uncertain and unprecedented times not only in the history of our great game but also in the modern world.

“We have seen the world in lockdown. And football, which brings joy and excitement to the billions across the globe, has also been suspended as we put the health and safety of all our stakeholders as a top priority.

“But now we are seeing the first glimmers of light as our teams return to training and many leagues have started or plan to restart soon.

“But in almost all the cases the matches are being held in the empty stadia without spectators. We all agree that this cannot be the new normal but a transition back to a time when our game can be played safely with crowds present,” he added.

Sheikh Salman also outlined how the AFC has contributed to the Asian football family during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Throughout this pandemic we have worked with all our Member Associations, Leagues and clubs in the confidence that competitions such as the AFC Champions League and the Asian World Cup qualifiers can return as soon as possible. It is another demonstration of the AFC’s unity and determination to assist its Member Associations to prosper and for their teams to take part in top-level competitions,” he concluded.

Earlier, Sheikh Rashid in the opening speech of the conference after welcoming Infantino and Sheikh Salman, said: “Today we unite our ambition to lead football around the world towards a new era after corona by studying the factors, pros and cons that resulted from this situation.

“We have seen the world unite during this pandemic and this proves that challenges, no matter how big they are, but they cannot stand in the way of humanity.

“Everyone is united to face them and this indicates that the pandemic like corona needs real leaders around the world to make fateful decisions that would protect the people and the humanity.”

He stressed that the UAE is considered one of the best countries in the world in dealing with the pandemic by taking preventive and precautionary measures. This is what has inspired the UAEFA to follow the same approach as that of our leadership in fighting with the pandemic.

“I am pleased to be among this elite of experts and specialists in global football affairs from various fields to take advantage of their experiences by developing new solutions and bright ideas that will enrich football in the world,” he concluded.