South West Asia Football Federation launched in Jeddah

Xtra Time WebDesk: It was a landmark day for Asian football as the South West Asian Football Federation (SWAFF) took its birth formally on Friday at Jeddah. The top officials of 12 countries from South and West of Asia were present out of the 14 founding members except for Iraq and Bhutan. The President of Iraq Football Federation could not be present for the meeting as they had their election on the same day.
The meeting was held in the presence of Mr. Nodar Akhalkatsi Director of Executive Office Secretary General FIFA.
The move was part of a proposed 14-nation football federation in Asia aimed at boosting some of the region’s emerging nations in the game.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) already includes five zonal federations for West, South, Central, East and Southeast Asia countries under its continental umbrella.
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa met with Ezzat to discuss the formation of SWAFF last week, the AFC said in statement.”We had an open and honest discussion on the formation of SWAFF and I made it clear to Mr Ezzat that the AFC had no objection … as long as it remains as a football body outside of the AFC’s zonal structure,” Shaikh Salman, a member of the Bahraini royal family, was quoted as saying.
The general assembly of SWAFF will be held on August 2. The first executive committee would comprise of six members – three each from South and West Asia.
The first president would be the president of Saudi Arb football federation.
Talking about the development, AIFF Senior Vice President Subrata Dutta said, “The move would definitely build better relationship amongst South Asian and West Asian football federations.”