Kuwait boycott threatens Asia Cup quarterfinals<\/p>\n
ABU DHABI (AFP): A possible threat by Kuwait is casting a
\ncloud over the Asian Football Cup which kicks off here today.<\/p>\n
Kuwaiti officials have warned they will pull out of the
\ntournament, the showcase of Asian soccer, if they find themselves
\ndrawn against Iraq when the quarterfinals begin in a fortnight.<\/p>\n
\"There is no way we could play against Iraq,\" said one Kuwaiti
\nofficial privately yesterday. \"It would be like a signal that our
\nrelationship was normal after their invasion in 1990,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Peter Velappan, General Secretary of the Asian Football
\nConfederation (AFC) admits the Kuwaiti threats are real but
\nattempted to play them down.<\/p>\n
\"Regarding Kuwait's intentions, we will cross that bridge when
\nwe come to it. All 12 teams have signed a pledge that they will
\nplay in the Finals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We are very proud of Asian football bridging the political
\ndifferences. The fact that these teams are playing on a neutral
\nground will help the tournament, added the 60-year-old Velappan.<\/p>\n
Should Kuwait carry out their threat they will be heavily
\npunished.<\/p>\n
\"Withdrawal from the finals is very serious not only from the
\nsporting point of view but also due to monetary damage from
\nsponsorship, TV and media deals. Countries are normally banned
\nfrom the next Asian finals,\" Velappan said.<\/p>\n
But in spite of the political minefield the Asian Cup poses,
\nwith Kuwait, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia all capable of going
\nthrough to the final stages, Velappan is convinced the tournament
\nwill show that Asian football is on the verge of catching up with
\nthe rest of the world.<\/p>\n
He insists the championship will prove that Asia will be a
\nforce to be reckoned with come the 1998 World Cup in France.<\/p>\n
\"The players doing well are coming from the professional
\nleagues and the AFC is persuading many countries to go non-
\namateur, like semi-professional, because only then can you
\nimprove,\" Velappan said.<\/p>\n
Asian football received a major boost earlier this year when
\nJapan upset Brazil in the Atlanta Olympics.<\/p>\n
Velappan insists that things can only get better for Asian
\nfootball and the Asian Cup will prove it.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kuwait-boycott-threatens-asia-cup-quarterfinals-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}