SWAFF is not any part of FIFA - AFC, It is a power group outside the realm of administrative structure. People here are confusing us joining SWAFF with leaving SAFF. India continues to be a member of SAFF. Let me know when SAFF is dissolved.
This new group is formed to challenge AFC & WAFF, for gathering of votes for important posts, World Cup bidding. and their own Middle East politics.
We are a bunch of pessimist critic. We lecture through out the year about leaving SAFF, playing better friendlies, players joining foreign clubs, bringing PIOs, but when something in that direction happen we somehow find a way to criticize. Really sad.
It depends on the ambition of Saudi Prince. Appointed head is close to the Prince. We are just a number, a vote for them. How and where they will use us in exchange of money/aid is all speculation at this moment !!!
@indian_gooner ; Yes BRICS membership doesnt affect our UN or SAARC membership. Same way here SWAFF doesnt affect SAFF. It is upto AFC to handle this rival/illegal grouping.
In South Asia, Nepal and Bhutan are the two nations devoid of direct flights with Saudi Arabia. This explains why these two nations failed to reach there in time for this hurriedly called meeting.
@sam ; I never said "could not reach due to not having direct flights". I said "they were late in reaching Jeddah for the meeting" and will join it in next meeting. Direct flights and indirect connections do make a difference in air travel time (some hours atleast) for a hurriedly called affair. It looks farcical but this is what news link reported-late in reaching there. I will post that link .
Sources said the founding meeting of SWAFF had been so hastily arranged
that Nepal and Bhutan were unable to attend. They said the two countries
were likely to join at a later stage.
Nepal and Bhutan are the only two countries in SAFF region devoid of direct flights with saudi arabia. We are only guessing at this moment on the basis of limited information we have. You get a phone call in Delhi in morning to attend Business meeting in Saudi by night-you can make it there. You get call in Thimphu, you cant make it.
Pakistani Paper Dawn has run this story with more details
Asked how he could say nothing was final when he posed for a photograph
alongside other officials in front of a backdrop that clearly had SWAFF
written on it — both in English and Arabic — alongside a logo, Kazi
said: “You cannot say no to your hosts, can you? An idea was floated but
it’s certainly not something that is done.”
Interestingly USA soccer chief was also present in Saudi Arabia - for Kings Cup Final.
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Any way PP and gang going to siphon money, let them siphon 300 crores leaving money generated locally to be used locally and properly