Viet Nam lose chance to host AFF Cup 2008
Viet Nam has failed in its bid to host the ASEAN Football Federation Championship (AFF Cup).
The regional football governing body last Saturday announced Thailand and Indonesia as the sites for the competition. Each received eight votes while Viet Nam received only six in a confidential vote.
Viet Nam last hosted the AFF Cup in 2004, while Indonesia hosted the cup in 2002 and Thailand hosted the qualifying rounds this year.
Next year”s competition will see the participation of Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, East Timor and the Philippines, who did not compete this year.
They will take part in a qualifying round which will be held in Cambodia to choose two best teams to play against Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Viet Nam in the final round.
The draw for the competition will be carried out in early August next year, with the Cup competition to be held on December 5-12.
Each of the two host nations will host competition for a group of four national teams in a round-robin format. Four winners from the two groups will advance to the last four rounds where a two-leg format is to be followed.
The 2008 AFF Cup title winner will receive a cash prize of US$100,000, while second and third place will get $50,000 and $15,000, respectively.
In Saturday”s vote, the AFF chose Viet Nam to host the AFF Cup for women in 2009.
VNS
