AFC chief rubbishes claims Australia could be expelled from the Confederation

A SHOCKED Asian football chief has savaged claims on the eve of the Asian Cup final that the Confederation wants to expel Australia.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MAY 02: Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain poses after he was elected as the 11th President of the Asian Football Confederation during the 2013 AFC Congress at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on May 2, 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)

A SHOCKED Asian football chief has savaged claims on the eve of the Asian Cup final that the Confederation wants to expel Australia.

“Stunned” Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa has backed Australia’s membership, and told the Herald Sun that alleged comments to the contrary were “manipulated”.

Sheikh Salman praised Australia for putting on a wonderful Asian Cup and said the focus should be on Saturday night’s final between Australia and South Korea, which will attract 80,000 fans and a global TV audience of 80 million.

“I’m really stunned with the timing to bring this topic out. It’s a false topic,’’ Sheikh Salman told the Herald Sun.

“To read a story like this is really sad because there’s no truth in it.

“The success of this tournament has exceeded our expectations. I won’t let a story like this affect the success of the tournament we had in Australia.

“We have to put this record straight. It’s been manipulated in a way to make it negative.”

Sheikh Salman conceded that some Asian nations were sceptical about Australia’s entry into the AFC in 2006, but said it was an old story.

Fairfax newspapers quoted Salman telling Dubai-based newspaper Al-Ittihad that “Arabs are not the only ones” looking to exclude Australia.

But Sheikh Salman said the Asian Cup proved that Australia has contributed to the world’s biggest Confederation.

Attendances at the Asian Cup have proven how successful Australia can be for the AFC.

“Australia is a full member of the Confederation. After this tournament if there is some doubt about Australia coming into this Confederation, I think it showed how big a success this has been.

“It’s been a great tournament and it’s thanks to Australia, the FFA and the Local Organising Committee.

“It’s not a new story, it’s been around for some time. We all know that some member associations doubted whether Australia coming into the Confederation was good or bad.’’

Originally published as AFC chief rubbishes claims Australia could be expelled from the Confederation