Asia demands five berths in Germany 2006 World Cup

Asia demands five berths in Germany 2006 World Cup

M. Jegathesan, Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Wednesday demanded five
automatic berths in the 2006 World Cup as it unveiled a new logo
to spur the "magical" game in Asia.

"We are entering a new millennium where the image of football
has evolved over the years from a game to an industry," AFC
general secretary Peter Velappan told AFP.

"The game has become magical. Asia has 3.2 billion people
representing more than 60 percent of the world population."

The new logo, replacing one inaugurated in 1954, has the
letters "AFC" in white logotype on blue with a stylized football
globe depicting Asia in a series of hexagonal shapes set in gold
with a rising sun behind it.

"As a confederation, we have emerged as a key player on the
international stage. Against this backdrop, it is only fitting
that we adopt a new identity."

The logo, to be launched Wednesday night by AFC president
Sultan Ahmad Shah along with the AFC gallery at the new AFC House
in Bukit Jalil south of Kuala Lumpur, underlines the belief that
in football "the future is Asia", Velappan said.

AFC would continue to fight for five automatic berths in the
2006 World Cup instead of the present four places and one play-
off chance against a European side, he said.

In 1999, AFC threatened to boycott the 2002 World Cup if FIFA
failed to resolve the row over berth allocation, but did not
carry it through.

Velappan said he was confident the AFC would win the extra
berth in future. "This is almost certain because many in FIFA
believe Asia should be given more places in the World Cup. We
will fight for it."

Velappan said Asian teams should perform well to strengthen
AFC's case. "We look forward for five teams in the 2006 World Cup
in Germany."

Identifying the challenges for Asian teams in the new
millennium, he said AFC would fight corruption and drug abuse.

"We will continue to be vigilant to fight the problems. We are
encouraged by the fact that we are winning the battle," he said,
adding that the drug scourge was under control.

"There are very few players in Asia consuming drugs. We do
carry out regular doping control. Most of them turn out to be
negative.

"We are also working towards providing a better deal for
players in order to increase their commitment and quality. We
also want to see more players going to Europe to learn the
professional trade."

Velappan, who is FIFA's coordinating director for the 2002
World Cup, to be co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, said future
World Cups should be jointly hosted since only a dozen countries
in FIFA have the resources and expertise to host alone.

"There are not more than 12 countries in the world who can
single-handedly host a World Cup of 32 teams," he said.

Velappan said FIFA had 204 members and everybody should be
given an equal opportunity. "Co-hosting may be the best solution
for the future."