Frank Lowy (C), chairman of the Football Federation of Australia (FFA), hands over the bid book to host the 2015 AFC Asian Cup to Mohammed bin Hammam (L), the president of Asian Football Confederation (AFC), at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. The ceremony was also witnessed by the FFA Chief Executive Ben Buckley (R).
KUALA LUMPUR: Australia, the only country offering to host the 2015 Asian Cup, presented its much delayed bid book to tournament organisers today and immediately won the backing of Asia’s soccer chief.
“I assure them that their bid will have my recommendation when it goes before the AFC Executive Committee,” Asian Football
Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hammam told reporters after receiving the dark brown book in a small ceremony at AFC House.
Australia’s bid book had been expected in January but the AFC granted an extension to allow for further discussion with the Australian government and other stakeholders.
“I can tell you that Australia is excited to host this event at all levels -- sporting, government and the general public,” Football Federation of Australia (FFA) Chairman Frank Lowy said.
The announcement on whether Australia will host the event is expected at the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
Australia only joined the AFC in 2006, leaving Oceania to improve their World Cup qualification chances.
Bin Hammam’s support for Australia as an Asian Cup venue came a day after he chose to snub them over the 2022 World Cup,
saying he was backing the bid of his home country, Qatar.
