2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying

Discussion in 'AFC: Tournaments' started by jonny63, Jul 19, 2009.

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  1. Angsa

    Angsa Member

    Aug 26, 2008
    Hong Kong
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Hong Kong FA is talking to Saudi Arabia FA about moving the date of Hong Kong's home game on 28 July, because Barclays Asia Trophy will take place on 27 and 31 July and the HK league winners (either South China or Kitchee) will take part. Either team has many HK national team players. HK stadium also cannot host the game on 28 July.
     
  2. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    AFGHANISTAN FOOTBALL: Afghanistan play-offs against Palestine might see problems due to diplomatic relations. Palestine is going to host Afghanistan on July 3rd, but Afghanistan might not be able to get into West Bank to play Palestine, unless the match is played in a neutral place.

    Afghanistan does not recognize Israel as a state and therefore does not have any diplomatic relations with Israel which is a requirement for applying visa to enter Palestine. It is also mentionable that contacting any level of Israeli authorities by Afghanistan Football Federation may face a lot of criticism inside Afghanistan. Some years ago, an e-mail was sent mistakenly to Israeli Embassy in Berlin for the ceremony of Afghanistan's Independence Day by a Secretary of Afghanistan Mission in Berlin which cost the job of the Secretary. She could not come back to Afghanistan due to a lot of criticism by media and religious scholars.

    Since Afghanistan might not be given the right to host Palestine in Kabul, it would be wise that Palestine host the return leg in a neutral place. The countries like Iran, Tajikistan or Pakistan might be good options for both countries.

    Afghanistan hosted Syria in their last world cup qualifier return leg in Tajikistan.
    http://footballafghanistan.blogspot.com/
     
  3. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    Homayoon Kargar, the Head Coach of Afghanistan told Tolo News both Afghanistan and Palestine will host their respective World Cup Qualifier legs in third countries. He cited the security reasons as the basis for this move.

    Although Kargar added FIFA and AFC have not permitted Palestine to host matches in Palestine, he did not point out to the fact Palestine hosted Jordan in Ramallah some months ago.

    In addition to security reasons, Afghanistan will have problems in obtaining Israeli visa to enter Palestine.

    http://footballafghanistan.blogspot.com/2011/04/afghanistan-and-palestine-play-in.html
     
  4. (De La)Redstriker06

    May 3, 2003
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    I like how you're coach is issuing decrees as if he is the President of the AFC... hahahaha. Just to clarify, we hosted the return leg of our Olympic Qualifier against Thailand in Palestine. This was the first official competitive match hosted by Palestine in the modern era (The 2008 friendly against Jordan was also a FIFA sanctioned friendly, by the way). As of March of this year we have been given clearance by FIFA to host games.

    There is an issue entering the West Bank, since Afghanistan doesn't recognize Israel but I suspect that this issue will be swept under the rug. It will be interesting to see what happens if Afghanistan holds firm and refuses to play in Palestine due to the border issue. The AFC may relocate the game or it could very well force Afghanistan to forfeit. Afghanistan could also withdraw after the first leg if they suffer a heavy defeat.
     
  5. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    I dont think the game will be played in Palestine, both game will be neutral. Otherwise if Afghanistan are forced to play in Palestine, then there should be no problem for the second leg to be played in Kabul Afghanistan, would be great for the people of Afghanistan!

    There wont be any heavy defeats however Palestine are a strong team I must admit. 4 years ago when Afghanistan played Syria, the first leg was 0-3 in which all 3 goals scored were penalties. Return leg was a close 1-2 game, which Afghanistan was up 1-0.
     
  6. (De La)Redstriker06

    May 3, 2003
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    I see what you are trying to say but you can't conflate the situation in Palestine with the situation in Afghanistan. The situation in Palestine isn't rosy, if we were to try and host this match in Gaza we would surely be turned down but the situation in the West Bank is better. According to the UN, the PA has actually met a sufficient standard for a functioning government of a state in the following areas: governance, rule of law and human rights; livelihoods; education and culture; health; social protection; and infrastructure and water.

    Afghanistan is simply not there yet. I wish we could play the match in Afghanistan but there is absolutely no way to guarantee the safety of our National Team. This isn't the fault of the Afghans just like the less than perfect situation here isn't the fault of the Palestinians.

    As far as the results go, I think a lot of it depends on preparation for Afghanistan. If you guys get a good training camp then I do not foresee a ridiculous score line in the first leg. But let me tell you from experience, without sufficient preparation and a home field advantage things can spiral out of control. We dominated Singapore in a 1-0 victory in Amman in February 2006, when we met in October 2007 in Doha after a hastily organized training camp we lost 4-0.

    Another thing to consider is that Palestine will be fielding a stronger lineup in the World Cup Qualifiers than they did in the Challenge Cup.
     
  7. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    Kargar only hinted on what might happen, he did not issue a decree and he knows the final decision is made by AFC and nothing is final yet. In addition, a number of players also told Palestine is not hosting in its own territory.

    Afghanistan's place of hosting is not determined yet, they might even choose Germany for the 1st leg because most of their foreign based players are there, but then AFC might not agree.

    The previous time, Bhutan was not given the hosting right v. Afghanistan, since Afghanistan could not host and both legs were played in a neutral venue.

    I personally think Afghanistan should go to Palestine and play there which helps the recognition of an effective government in a country that Afghanistan fully recognize as a state, but you know, sometimes, politicians have to consider what the results of their actions might be on the ground.

    Even in terms of security, we don't have much concerns in Kabul and this should not be a problem for hosting international matches. Most of fighting happens along the border with Pakistan.

    But at last, these are the visiting teams who should show their concerns over their own security, whether it is Afghanistan or Palestine. And as far as I know, FIFA or AFC do not force teams to play in areas where the team members own security is at risk.
     
  8. (De La)Redstriker06

    May 3, 2003
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    I might be wrong, but I think Bhutan hasn't hosted a match in five years due to its lack of a FIFA-spec stadium. I would be shocked if the AFC forced both teams to host on neutral grounds due to the inability of one team to host a game. We never were afforded such leniency neither was Georgia in 2009 or Israel back in the early 2000s to name a few. Security is an arbitrary notion... but for whatever reason the AFC and FIFA have deemed the West Bank secure and places like Kabul, Baghdad, and even Karachi insecure.
     
  9. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    thats true, it does seem unsafe.

    Worth noting, for the 2006 World Cup, the qualifer in 2003 was held in Kabul against Turkmenistan, scorlines was 2-0 in favour of the Turkmens
     
  10. (De La)Redstriker06

    May 3, 2003
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    Afghanistan will be seriously handicapped by hosting its "home" leg in another country but no matter where they settle on, I don't think Palestine will settle the match definitively in the first leg. They might win 1-0 or 2-0 but I don't foresee them going on a romp. At home it will be a different story, I could see a boisterous home crowd really helping and motivating Palestine to put on a show. Against Thailand the Olympic team looked completely different from the one that was super-cautious and defensive in the first leg. By all accounts, that game never should have reached penalty kicks.

    I wish we could get clarification on this situation from the AFC, but I'm pretty sure the status quo will remain. Afghanistan will be forced to host somewhere else the tricky part is what happens in the return leg if Afghanistan refuses to travel due to it not recognizing Israel.
     
  11. w-inds.

    w-inds. Member

    May 6, 2006
    http://footballafghanistan.blogspot.com/2011/05/tajikistan-plays-hosts-for-afghanistan.html

    Tajikistan Plays Hosts for Afghanistan World Cup Qualifier Match

    Tajikistan plays host for Afghanistan first leg of World Cup play-offs. Afghanistan will meet Palestine on June 29, 2011 in Tajikistan. The second leg will be hosted by Palestine, but the venue is still not known.

    Afghanistan played Syria in Tajikistan for 2010 World Cup Qualifiers in 2007 where Afghanistan lost the match 1-2.

    Afghanistan will have a practice camp in Tajikistan starting from June 18. All players, including those play in Europe and US will join the camp.

    This news is not confirmed by AFC or AFF yet.
     
  12. Angsa

    Angsa Member

    Aug 26, 2008
    Hong Kong
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    According to Brian Leung, chairman of HKFA, AFC has refused HKFA's request to move the date of Hong Kong's home game against Saudi Arabia. That means Hong Kong's home game will likely be played in Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground instead of the Hong Kong Stadium, which will be occupied by the 2011 Barclays Asia Trophy.

    Kitchee (the probable league winners) will likely have many players called up for the Hong Kong team, therefore they may have to field a weakened side in the Barclays Asia Trophy.
     
  13. Angsa

    Angsa Member

    Aug 26, 2008
    Hong Kong
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Tsang Wai-Chung, who has been the coach of Hong Kong for the past year, will remain as coach (with no pay) for the 3 June friendly against Malaysia and the World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia in July.

    HKFA is in the process of hiring a new coach but he won't be able to join until sometime later.
     
  14. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    Tajikistan hosts the 2 matches between Afghanistan and Palestine in WCQ first round in Asia. Afghanistan Olympic Committee reported to BBC Pashto Website today.
     
  15. (De La)Redstriker06

    May 3, 2003
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    All reports from the Palestine FA are to the contrary... The return leg will be played in Palestine and Bin Hammam had signed off on this when he attended an Olympic Qualifying match in Al-Ram against Thailand.

    If we were to play anywhere else we would probably pick a place in the Middle East (Amman being a likely possibility) where we have fans that would come out to support us.
     
  16. druryfire

    druryfire Member

    Sep 10, 2007
    England
    I think your right here. I couldn't imagine why Palestine would agree to host their game in another country such as Tajikistan. If this was the case then I could only assume that some kind of pressure has been put on them.

    I can understand Afghanistans reasoning for not going to Palestine (come on Egypt, open the border!). But wouldn't be able to understand why Palestine would play into their hands. Tajikistan is Afghanistans pick, not Palestines.

    But what FIFA and the AFC must do from now on is make it clear that if a nation can't host a gome game then surely the tie should be played over one leg at the opponenets venue or at least go someway so that every time a tournament is opened that nations do actually have some kind of plan in place. For instance, Afghanistan knew they were in round 1, yet never finalised a 'home ground' until after the draw. Wouldn't it be fairer in the future to declare a venue before the draw, rather than rush around to find a venue?

    I can understand last minute matchups, but we've known about WC Qualifiers months in advance, but organisation is just poor. Is it fair that Palestine didn't know where they were playing when the draw was made but everyone else did?

    If Palestine play their home tie in Tajikistan then does this mean that every one must bow down to Afghanistan in the future? If Afghanistan make round 2, does this mean Thailand's home game is played in Tajikistan for instance.
     
  17. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    It is really unfortunate, these two nations cannot play on their home. I think none of FIFA members like to declare they cannot host the matches due to any reason. Afghanistan and Palestine, for example, always underestimate the security threats and show their readiness for hosting matches, but it is always AFC and FIFA which decide to the contrary given the security situation and other matters.

    If it was for Afghanistan, we liked to host the matches in Iran or Pakistan where millions of Afghans live and least some thousand could come to the stadium. With Tajikistan, we have only good relations, but you cannot find many Afghans live there.
     
  18. edrees

    edrees Member

    Nov 28, 2005
    Thailand do not have security concerns therefore would obviously be able to hose their home game. Afghanistan do not recognise Israel as a state therefore would be hard to obtain a visa, having said that Tajikistan only have good relations with Afghanistan and therefore help in hosting 'home' matches for the Afghans, this brings me to the question of why Palestine cannot chose there 'home' game destination...
     
  19. (De La)Redstriker06

    May 3, 2003
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    Thailand is fighting constant border skirmishes with Cambodia... I mean if you look hard enough you can find security concerns with a lot of the 208 FIFA members.

    We have already declared our intent to host the matches in Palestine. Qatar does not recognize Israel either and Mohammed bin Hammam was able to cross into the West Bank. It is not an impossibility. A number of people have claimed that playing football with Palestine in Palestine is tantamount to normalizing relations with Israel (since they have to deal with Israeli authorities at the Jordanian border crossing) but I think it puts pressure on Israel to allow Palestinian sport to function in a normal manner. The more belligerent Israel acts to Palestinian and other athletes the more likely FIFA is to act on the matter by punishing the Israeli FA. This threat of punishment would force Israel's hand and improve the freedom of movement for Palestinian teams and athletes.

    Afghanistan and Palestine have their troubles but they are two very different places in terms of security and safety. The West Bank is safe many aid workers and activists live and work there without the need for security liaisons. The main threat of violence are vigilante attacks by Israeli settlers (whose victims are almost always Palestinian farmers). The Israeli military has made life hard in the West Bank but there are pockets of normalcy in between the checkpoints and giant dividing barrier. It isn't normal by any means but thousands of tourists came to Bethlehem on Christmas, we are hosting 12 international teams in friendly tournament now, and Sepp Blatter is visiting Palestine for the third time in three years (most likely in a quest to secure votes for his FIFA presidential campaign).

    I'm not going to comment on the situation in Afghanistan. But you can't sit here and say the situations in the two countries are similar.
     
  20. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    Like I said, it is very unfortunate for both nations, regardless of security situation in either of the countries.

    By travelling to Palestine and dealing with Isreali officials and check points, there is also the risk of jeopardizing the security in Afghanistan. People do not want any level of contact of Afghanistan with Isreal, and if Afghan teams travel there, you will surely see thousands of people on the streets of kabul, Herat, Kandahar and Mazar chanting agains the government for authorizing the trip. Given the Taliban dellima, we really don't want to have another headache. And you know, Bin Hammam and Slap Blatter know these complications.

    I hope you understand how the scenarios work.
     
  21. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    Although BBC Pashto reported both matches will be played in Tajikistan, has anyone seen any other source confirm this?
     
  22. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=47159&Cat=10&dt=5/15/2011

    Israel govt puts Pakistan’s Palestine tour in jeopardy

    KARACHI: The delay in issuing an NOC from the Israeli government to the Palestine Football Association has put the Pakistan football team’s tour to Palestine in danger.

    The Palestine Football Association has sought an NOC from the Israeli government for the Pakistan’s tour to Palestine but so far no satisfactory response has been given by the Israeli authorities. However, the Palestine Football Association (PFA) has told the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) that the Israeli government will issue them the NOC by Monday (tomorrow).

    “Israel is yet to issue an NOC to the Palestine Football Association which has minimized the chances of the tour. The PFA has told us that the NOC will be issued by Monday next. Then we will have to ask our own government for an NOC and if we are not issued the NOC quickly then we will have to cancel the trip as we have very little time at our disposal,” the secretary of the PFF Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi told ‘The News’ on Saturday.

    Pakistan are scheduled to fly out of Lahore for Palestine on May 22 to play the remaining two matches of the four-match bilateral series against Palestine on May 24 and 27 at the Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram near Ramallah.

    If the trip, which looks to be in jeopardy, is made possible then Pakistani team will have to first go to Jordan and then travel to Palestine through Israel by road.
     
  23. (De La)Redstriker06

    May 3, 2003
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    Sepp Blatter and Mohammed Bin Hammam want this and they're both running for FIFA president. I understand the political implications of dealing with Israel but if the Afghans are given the green light to enter the West Bank and they refuse I don't think FIFA/AFC will accommodate them. They'll probably have them forfeit the match 3-0.
     
  24. shayanAFG

    shayanAFG Member

    Sep 21, 2010
    http://footballafghanistan.blogspot.com

    Pakistan is not travelling to Palestine for the two friendlies scheduled on May 22 and 27 in Ramallah, the News reported from Pakistan. Israel did not issue an NOC to the Palestine Footaball Association yesterday due to the fragile security situation in the area.

    “Yes, the tour has been postponed as the NOC has not been issued as yet. We have also called off the camp today,” Pakistan Football Federation Secretary Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi told ‘The News’ on Monday. “If possible the tour will be rescheduled after consulting with PFA in future,” he said.

    “Safety of the players is more important and we should always prepare for such surprises. But I would say, it would have been productive for the preparations of our players ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh had we played the two matches against Palestine,” Lutfi said.

    The postponment of the tour supports Afghanistan's arguement that Palestine should also host the 2nd leg of WCQ v. Afghanistan in a third country. Afghanistan Olympic Committee has already told media both matches on June 29 and July 3 will be played in Tajikistan.
     
  25. (De La)Redstriker06

    May 3, 2003
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    Palestine
    The delay/cancellation of the Pakistan friendlies is not a result of security concerns but a result of a lack of cooperation on the part of the Israeli National Olympic Committee.

    If Palestine were playing Chinese Taipei instead of Afghanistan there would be no issues. Sepp Blatter has promised to take the issue up with the Israeli FA and the Israeli ambassador in Geneva... We'll see what happens:

    http://www.sportsfeatures.com/socce...-as-access-dispute-hinders-palestine-progress
     

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