KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Football Confederation (QFC) on Thursday
welcomed the statement by FIFA’s adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics
Committee, to clear Qatar of unfounded allegations of bid rigging for
the 2022 World Cup.

After more than 18 months of investigation by Michael Garcia, Chairman
of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, the AFC
President, Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, has conveyed his
confidence in the findings.

“I am satisfied that Qatar has been absolved of any misconduct in
their bid for the 2022 World Cup,” he said in a statement released by
AFC on Thursday.

“The AFC has always stood by Qatar as we defend their right to host
the 2022 World Cup, and this finding reaffirms our belief and support
for the country. We would now be able to move on and work with Qatar
to ensure that we deliver the best World Cup that Asia can offer.

“There are matters to be ironed out of course including the timing of
the World Cup, but we are committed to get it done. I would also like
to call upon all Asian nations to continue showing support for Qatar
as we have been doing since they won the bid. This is an important
moment for Asia, and we have a wonderful opportunity to create
history,” he added

Qatar 2022 will be the first World Cup to be held in Asia’s Western
region, and only the second to be held in Asia after Japan and Korea
Republic in 2002.