ALL ABOUT AFF HISTORY

AFF Asean Football Federation

Established in January 31 1984

The Asean Football Federation (AFF) has grown in size and stature since its inception in 1984 with five members.

Today, it has representatives from all 11 members of the regional grouping: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.

Thailand, Philippines, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia were the founder members, with the presidency rotating among these five members.

Its initial activity was the organization of a Champions Club competition, but this tournament was discontinued by the late 1980s because of lack of response.

As a political entity, Asean, grew in membership in the Nineties to include the former Indochina countries – Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos – and Myanmar.

But the AFF did not really take off until the Congress of 1996 when Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen of Malaysia was elected to the presidency.

At the Congress, Dato' Paul Mony of Malaysia was appointed Secretary-cum-Treasurer.

But Tengku Rithaudeen and Dato' Paul were principal officials of the Football Association of Malaysia.

The inaugural AFF championship for the Tiger Cup was held in 1996 in Singapore with the six founder members participating.

Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar were also invited although they not yet members of the AFF. Thailand won the inaugural competition.

The AFF also organised the Dunhill Cup, a biennial competition that was inaugurated in 1997.

In this competition, three AFF members were invited to play against teams from East Asia and other regions of the world. The first Dunhill Cup was held in Kuala Lumpur and the second was held in Ho Chih Minh City in 1999.

The AFF also organizes competitions at other levels: Asean Under 17; Under 20; and Under 23.

Other competitions include Futsal Championship and the Women's Championship.

The AFF comprises a Council whose members are the President, four Vice Presidents, the Secretary-cum-treasurer, and a member from each of its affiliates.