Kuwait boycott threatens Asia Cup quarterfinals

Kuwait boycott threatens Asia Cup quarterfinals

ABU DHABI (AFP): A possible threat by Kuwait is casting a cloud over the Asian Football Cup which kicks off here today.

Kuwaiti officials have warned they will pull out of the tournament, the showcase of Asian soccer, if they find themselves drawn against Iraq when the quarterfinals begin in a fortnight.

"There is no way we could play against Iraq," said one Kuwaiti official privately yesterday. "It would be like a signal that our relationship was normal after their invasion in 1990," he added.

Peter Velappan, General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) admits the Kuwaiti threats are real but attempted to play them down.

"Regarding Kuwait's intentions, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. All 12 teams have signed a pledge that they will play in the Finals," he said.

"We are very proud of Asian football bridging the political differences. The fact that these teams are playing on a neutral ground will help the tournament, added the 60-year-old Velappan.

Should Kuwait carry out their threat they will be heavily punished.

"Withdrawal from the finals is very serious not only from the sporting point of view but also due to monetary damage from sponsorship, TV and media deals. Countries are normally banned from the next Asian finals," Velappan said.

But in spite of the political minefield the Asian Cup poses, with Kuwait, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia all capable of going through to the final stages, Velappan is convinced the tournament will show that Asian football is on the verge of catching up with the rest of the world.

He insists the championship will prove that Asia will be a force to be reckoned with come the 1998 World Cup in France.

"The players doing well are coming from the professional leagues and the AFC is persuading many countries to go non- amateur, like semi-professional, because only then can you improve," Velappan said.

Asian football received a major boost earlier this year when Japan upset Brazil in the Atlanta Olympics.

Velappan insists that things can only get better for Asian football and the Asian Cup will prove it.