Malaysia’s top daily the New Straits Times on Tuesday quoted some senior officials of the Malaysian Football Federation as saying that Malaysia is willing to host B group of AFF Cup 2008 if the security situation in Bangkok doesn’t allow the organisation of these matches there.
Thailand and Indonesia are the two hosts of the qualifier round of AFF Cup 2008. Group A has Myanmar, Singapore, Cambodia and host Indonesia playing at Senayan Stadium in Jakarta. Group B features Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam and host Thailand scheduled to compete at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok.
Because of a demonstration last month, the surface of Rajamangala Stadium was damaged and the host decided to organise AFF Cup matches in Supachalasai Stadium.
Yet, as demonstrations and the political situation have become tenser in Bangkok recently, a question has been raised: “Is Thailand able to host Group B?” Even the Thai Football Association is not sure.
“The situation in Bangkok is not really stable, especially after demonstrators blockaded Suvarnabhumi International Airport,” an anonymous official from the Thai Football Association said.
According to the New Straits Times, if it replaced Thailand as the host of Group B of AFF Cup, Malaysia would receive $150,000 from the AFF.
The AFF plans to release an official decision about this issue in the next few days, after it receives a report from Thailand.
Senior officials of the VFF are now working in China and they haven’t made any statement.
Source: VNE
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