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Doha, Qatar: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has expressed his profound sorrow and deepest condolences to the Qatar royal family, the Qatar Football Association, and the people of Qatar following the demise of the Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
The AFC President paid rich tribute to the monumental legacy of H H the Father Amir, hailing him as a visionary leader and the true architect of modern Qatar, whose immense love for football and sport transformed the sporting landscape of Qatar and Asia.
Shaikh Salman said: “On behalf of the AFC and the entire Asian football family, I wish to convey our heartfelt sympathies to the royal family, the Qatar Football Association, and the nation of Qatar during this time of immense grief.
“His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was a leader of extraordinary vision and wisdom. His profound passion and love for football served as the driving force behind Qatar’s historic rise as a premier global sporting hub. It was under his inspirational leadership that Qatar secured the hosting rights for the magnificent FIFA World Cup 2022, a milestone achievement that brought the world’s biggest tournament to the Arab world for the very first time, filling our entire continent with pride.”
“The global sporting community will always remember His Highness as the driving force behind the historic 15th Asian Games Doha 2006. His reign also saw Qatar showcase its exceptional organisational capabilities to the football world by hosting a spectacular AFC Asian Cup in 2011,” Shaikh Salman noted.
Beyond football and continental games, the Father Amir ‘s era established Qatar as a permanent fixture on the international sporting calendar.
“His incredible impact on football and his enduring legacy across all sports will be cherished forever by the global sporting community,” added Shaikh Salman.
