AFC ExCo takes important decisions

The AFC Executive Committee approved amendments to the existing criteria in the selection of the AFC Player of the Year. There will be three awards henceforth: a) Best Asian Player in Asia, b) Best Asian Player in Foreign Clubs, c) Best Foreign Player in Asia. The nominees will have to be present to be considered for the awards. The awards date, which is currently in November, will be reviewed and shifted to a suitable month in the following year. There will be one award for the AFC Women s Player of the Year. The AFC Executive Committee met on Friday for the first time this year and discussed several important topics and took several key decisions, keeping in view the development of Asian football. AFC Acting President Zhang Jilong set the tone for the full-strength gathering with his opening remarks when he told the members to gear up for what he said would be a "very challenging year". "We ended 2011 in a spirit of solidarity and unity. I would like to request all of you to continue in the same tone," said Jilong. "A sense of togetherness and unity of purpose has never been more important in Asian football. 2012 will be very challenging for me, and you, but I promise you that as the Acting President I will go by the AFC Statutes.