AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who opened the meeting chaired by Dasho Ugen Tsechup, said: “The AFC is extremely proud of our new commercial partnership with DDMC Fortis, which was conducted with utmost professionalism.

"Our ambition is to ensure our Member Associations take full advantage of the commercial opportunities in the coming years to bring about positive change.

“We have seen many Member Associations make remarkable strides, but we want to do more, we want to be a leading Confederation and I am confident that this Committee will play a crucial role in carrying out our ambitions.”

Australia’s Melbourne Victory, Nippon TV Beleza from Japan, China PR’s Jiangsu Suning Ladies Football Club and Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels from Korea Republic will go down in the history books as the first four Asian clubs aiming to clinch the first-ever title in a tournament organised for women’s clubs in Asia.

MNC will provide extensive coverage of all Indonesian national team and club matches via their multiple channels and digital platforms. In addition, all neutral matches played as part of AFC’s key competitions will be aired live across MNC’s network.

As well as Indonesia, MNC will broadcast in the territories of Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.

This partnership marks an important milestone for the AFC and its exclusive commercial partner, DDMC Fortis, as it reaffirms the Confederation’s established relationship with Indonesia’s flagship media conglomerate MNC and ensures national team and club football continues to be broadcast to the country’s millions of enthusiastic football fans. 

Dato’ Windsor John, the AFC General Secretary, said: “Indonesia is home to some of Asia’s most dedicated football fans and this partnership underlines not only the passion that exists in that country for Asian football but also the confidence that the broadcasters have in the AFC’s competitions.

“We are delighted to have extended our very successful relationship with MNC and look forward to sharing some historic moments with their millions of football-loving viewers as the game in Asia moves into a new era.”

Hary Tanoesoedibjo, Group Chairman at the MNC Group, said about the deal: "We are delighted to announce that we have secured the most prestigious football competitions in Asia from 2021-2024. Football is the most popular sport in the country, and we are proud to establish this venture to bring fans a wide range of sports entertainment.

“The addition of various AFC competitions will further strengthen MNC's position as a ‘must see’ FTA network for any football fan. Millions of people in Indonesia will have the opportunity to enjoy and support Indonesian national team football as well as club football on an international scale.”

Patrick Murphy, Board Member and CEO at DDMC Fortis, said: “We are delighted to renew AFC’s long-term partnership with MNC, which will provide fans extensive free-to-air coverage of Indonesian national team and club football. MNC is an excellent partner to further develop the AFC national team and club competitions throughout the cycle.”

At the second AFC Executive Committee meeting of the 2019-2023 cycle, chaired by longest-serving AFC Vice President and FIFA Council member, Saoud Al Mohannadi, in the absence of President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, it was decided to grow the two competitions.

From the 2021 season, the AFC Champions League will be expanded to 40 clubs with an extra group of four being added in both the East and West zones and further growing the reputation of one of the richest Continental club competitions in the world.

In his opening remarks, Chairperson H.E. Du Zhaocai paid tribute to the Continent’s officials, noting their commendable performance and achievements on the world’s biggest stages.

He said: “Referee development is a key focus for the AFC and Asian referees are already world-class. Our role in this Committee is to ensure our officials continue to improve.

“We must increase the elite referees and raise the overall standards in Asia and to achieve this, we must give our Member Associations the best chance to succeed.”

Strengthening the foundations for its Member Associations, the Committee were updated on the progress of the AFC Referee Academy, which is already making a significant impact on expanding the AFC’s talent pool, with as many as seven officials registered on the FIFA International list since its launch in November 2017.

The Committee also noted the highly successful implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, introduced for the first time from the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, which also saw a record of 60 match officials appointed for the competition. From a total of 81 checks and six reviews, the VAR system improved the accuracy of decision-making by 4.9 percent

As part of efforts to raise the competency standards of fitness instructors across the Continent, the Committee agreed to accredit top fitness instructors, which will ensure a more stringent and comprehensive selection process while raising the quality and level of consistency.

Moving forward, the Committee agreed that only certified fitness instructors will be appointed to the AFC’s refereeing development activities and competitions.

Members also approved the recommendation to re-designate the current AFC certified Referee Instructors as Elite Referee Instructors, recognising their role and status within the AFC’s Referee Instructors panel.

Chaired by Salem Said Salem Al Wahaibi, the Committee heard of AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa’s President’s Development Initiative, the President’s Infrastructure Initiative as well as the Technical Staff Initiative and Football Administration Certificate (FAC).

The Committee learnt that 15 Member Associations (MAs) had benefited from the Development Initiative, 23 Mini Pitches were delivered to eight MAs in 2018 while FAC Editions Four and Five saw 42 graduates from 19 MAs and Editions Six and Seven 47 participants from 23 MAs – with Turkmenistan and Syria represented for the first time.

A total of 12 infrastructure projects were approved in 2018 and a further 24 this year under the President’s Infrastructure Initiative while 30 MAs applied for funding under the President’s Technical Staff Initiative of which 22 have been accepted so far.

Chaired by Deputy Chair, Dato’ Dr Gurcharan Singh, the Committee agreed to form a Gender Verification Sub-Committee to consider the complex issues involved in the subject – including the review and update of recommendations, policy and regulations.

It was also decided to help educate Member Associations’ medical personnel to establish a “Unity of Doctrine Policy’ by sharing modern scientific knowledge and research in three-day seminars or workshops.