European Clubs Association General Assembly Opens in Doha

Doha, February 05 (QNA) - Clubs from Asia and rest of the world are figuring for the first time in the 10th European Club Association General Assembly which opened Tuesday in Doha. Over 200 clubs are attending the two-day assembly. The non-European clubs in attendance include: Boca Juniors, Santos FC, Corinthians, DC United, Toronto FC, Kashima Antlers and Adelaide United FC, event organisers said. Qatar Football Association (QFA) President HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani welcomed all members of the ECA and invited guests at a plenary session at the St Regis hotel today. An official dinner will commence for delegates at the Museum of Islamic Arts later in the evening where Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, Hassan Al Thawadi, will outline preparations already underway for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar. Commenting on the assembly Al Thawadi said, "The 10th ECA General Assembly coincides with the European Club Association's 5th anniversary and we are delighted to welcome and help celebrate this landmark with all ECA members. "The ECA has taken the lead in terms of integrating international football at club level through sharing of knowledge and best practices and hosting the GA is an important step for Qatar with regard to its ambition to be recognized as a platform for dialogue within the world of sport. "It is also an opportunity for Qatar to realize its vision of football being able to act as a positive force for bridging cultural gaps between nations." Secretary General of the QFA Saud Al Mohannadi will speak at the non-European club workshop to be held Wednesday morning here. The workshop will offer a forum to bring together clubs from all over the world to discuss best practice with regards to club representation at continental level and to find the best ways to co-operate in the future to an enhanced understanding of the issues faced in different football communities across the world. (QNA)