Muscat: President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Mohammad Bin Hammam expressed his support and solidarity with the Palestinian people after the raids of Israeli fighter jets on Gaza that killed more than 300 innocent civilians.
Bin Hammam came to the press conference wearing the traditional Palestinian headgear (keffiyeh) and asked all the players in the 19th Gulf Cup to show their support to the Palestinians in their own way.
He said he was not worried about punishment from Fifa for taking a political stand at a sporting event but expressed his condolence to the Palestinian people for their dead.
"I am practising my rights as an Arab in showing sympathy to my brothers in Palestine."
Regarding the Gulf Cup, Bin Hammam voiced his support for the tournament and countered accusations that, he in his capacity as the president of the AFC, was not in favour of the regional tournament and tried to stop it.
"It is an important tournament that has led to improvement of the game in the region. So to avoid being sanctioned by the AFC, we suggested that it could be held every four years because we have professional league competitions in the continent and the players have many obligations with their clubs in domestic and continental competitions.
"Many players of the teams participating are playing as professionals outside their countries and the clubs have the right not to release them but if the tournament is held every four years that will help the players to be released by the clubs in particular as the tournament is not yet sanctioned by either the AFC or FIFA."
Bin Hammam denied his intention to run for the presidency of FIFA saying "Blatter is my friend and I fully support him."
