The President
In a tightly contested battle, host nation and first-time finalists Indonesia were denied a historic triumph with Hossein Sabzi converting the decisive penalty to give IR Iran a 5-4 shootout victory after the thrilling Final ended 5-5 after extra-time.
Shaikh Salman said: “The Asian football family joins me in congratulating both the Islamic Republic of Iran and Indonesia for showcasing commendable intensity, tenacity and dynamism to reach the Final.
“Our wholehearted praise must go to the Islamic Republic of Iran for displaying incredible dominance and consistency to secure the coveted title, and this achievement is indeed a tribute to the dedication and sacrifice of everyone working behind the scenes.
“Both the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran and the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) deserve our plaudits not only for their commitment towards growing the love for the sport but also for producing formidable squads capable of succeeding at the highest levels, as underlined in the AFC’s Vision and Mission.”
The AFC President also took the opportunity to convey his appreciation to the Local Organising Committee and PSSI for hosting an impeccable 18th edition of the hard-court showpiece, which was held in Indonesia for only the second time in history.
Shaikh Salman added: “Both in football and futsal, we have seen Indonesia reach new summits of excellence across all levels and credit must go to the PSSI for the concrete steps taken to transform and elevate the standards of the game across its passionate fanbase.
“Hosting the AFC’s premier futsal competition represents another fine example of the PSSI’s ambitions to raise the profile of the sport, and whilst we thank them for their desire to take on this proud responsibility, we must also applaud their historic success, and we are confident that it is a sign of more to come from Indonesia.”
