The overwhelming backing of Member Associations, players and officials has seen numbers grow with close to 100 Asian football luminaries declaring their support behind the trending #BreakTheChain campaign.

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.

Answering the exceptional pledge for support, the next episode of the #BreakTheChain video features Indonesia and Persija Jakarta legend Bambang Pamungkas, India women’s football team captain Ngangom Bala Devi and Korea Republic and Suwon Samsung Bluewings sensation Hong Chul.

Featuring in the next #BreakTheChain episode are none other than Islamic Republic of Iran and Brighton & Hove Albion star Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Kyrgyz Republic’s rising star Sabina Konushbaeva and Bahrain international Kamel Al Aswad.

The #BreakTheChain campaign, which garnered the support of more than 50 Asian players and officials in less than 48 hours since its launch on Thursday, encourages people not only to adopt the best hygiene practises as underlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) but also inspires hope and solidarity in these challenging times.

The COVID-19 epidemic continues to impact the global sporting calendar but that has not stopped Asia’s biggest names from sharing inspiring messages of solidarity and timely reminders on the best health practices and guidelines put in place by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The #BreakTheChain campaign, which was launched by the AFC earlier this week and was applauded by Member Associations, carries the message of solidarity in these challenging times and promotes the guidelines put in place by the World Health Organization (WHO) to practice good personal hygiene, social distancing and where enforced, respecting the #StayAtHome rules.