Across the globe, staff and volunteers at medical facilities have been risking their lives on a daily basis to support humankind. Some have, sadly, paid the ultimate price. People working or volunteering in law enforcement, pharmacies, shops, warehouses, delivery services, public transport, and safety and security have also been playing a key role in protecting our way of life.

To all of these heroic people: football thanks you, football remembers you and football supports you.

In the letter, reproduced below, the AFC President praised the way the Member Associations have come together "to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on an international and domestic level – showing just how much Football Cares."

Shaikh Salman also thanked the work of the AFC’s Member Associations and the contribution of players and officials during this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed so many lives across the globe.

Football will have an important role to play in the weeks and months ahead as the world returns to normality, but now our focus is firmly on protecting the well-being of all those who are involved in our great game.

Each of you, in varying degrees, have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and many of your Governments have taken swift and strong action to prevent its spread and limit its impact on your communities including partial lockdown or restricting movement.

Indeed, in Malaysia, the home of AFC House, the Government has, as you have been informed, imposed a Movement Control Order and, as a precaution, the AFC had starting 17 March 2020 imposed a two week “work from home” initiative to safeguard the staff and their families from further exposure and will be extended if necessary.

In the meantime, business continues as normal to serve the needs of all our Member and Regional Associations as well as our wide range of stakeholders. I have instructed the Administration to process all approved AFAP payments on an urgent basis to ensure salaries of staff and other contractual payments can be made without any delay.

As you know the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus has led to the AFC, with your agreement, postponing matches and events. The AFC thanks you for your continued support, advice and co-operation.

Again, these changes to our calendar were aimed at ensuring the safety and health of our Members, their officials, their players, their staff and, of course, the millions of fans who engage with football in Asia each year.

Their health is, and always will be, our priority.

And that is why it is important that the AFC and all our Member and Regional Associations work with Governments and Health Agencies to curtail the threat of this virus and that everyone should take all precautions.

The AFC strongly urges all its Members to follow the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to exercise the highest levels of hygiene and are pleased to note that some Members have also declared a “work from home” initiative.

The AFC has built its strong foundations on unity and solidarity – particularly in the face of adversity – during the last six years and this situation is another challenge which we will take on together to protect not only our communities but also the future of our game.

Of course, the AFC will take a strong lead and will, as always, be on hand to offer advice and assistance to any of our Member and Regional Associations in these uncertain times.

Please all remain safe and I look forward to the time when football can again play a significant role in bringing excitement and joy to people across Asia.

Having reached millions of fans, the #BreakTheChain series has been widely applauded in educating the Asian community on the precautionary measures established by the World Health Organization to flatten the COVID-19 curve and encouraging football fans to remain calm by sharing positive messages of unity and hope.

The #BreakTheChain campaign, which has received overwhelming support from more than 100 Asian stars and officials, continues to promote the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines and raise awareness in the fight against the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Beiranvand, voted by fans as one of Asia’s all-time greatest at the FIFA World Cup, joins over 100 Asian icons and officials to help raise awareness in the fight against the spread of the current COVID-19 pandemic.