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Asian futsal has grown steadily in recent years with the Continent’s sides achieving success on the world’s biggest stages and the sport is poised to usher in a new chapter of development with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirming the pilot implementation of futsal club licensing beginning this year.
The AFC Futsal Club Licensing Criteria was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee in October 2021 and subsequently included as part of the annexure of the AFC Club Licensing Regulations (Edition 2021) and looks set to benefit the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs)’ efforts towards elevating the professional standards of clubs and leagues across the Continent.
The pilot implementation will play a crucial role for aspiring Asian clubs looking to compete in the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2023 with the entry requirements set to be made mandatory beginning from the 2024 edition.
AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: “The AFC has set its sights firmly, as outlined in its Vision, to ensure football remains Asia’s number one sport and futsal development plays an essential role in growing the passion for the game.
“Club Licensing has been a pivotal development tool for Asian football in the last decade with our club competitions now well recognised as amongst the best in world football and we are confident that this latest implementation will strengthen the foundations for the AFC’s Member Associations to reach new heights of professionalism in the coming years.”
Similar to the AFC’s Club Competitions, which this year marked a decade-long impact of club licensing implementation, the Futsal Club Licensing Criteria comprises five main categories – Sporting Criteria, Infrastructure Criteria, Personnel, and Administrative Criteria, Legal Criteria, and Financial Criteria.
In preparation of the launch, the AFC will continue to provide expert advice and work in close partnership with club licensing administrators from the AFC MAs and Participating Clubs to ensure a seamless transition through a series of informative and insightful workshops, which includes the upcoming annual AFC Club Licensing Seminar.
Kindly refer to Annex 6 of the AFC Club Licensing Regulations (2021 Edition) available here for more information on the Futsal Club Licensing Criteria.
