AFC Awards
Having served the Continent with distinction, Honorary President Timothy Fok stands unrivalled amongst a unique pool of Asian visionaries whose experience in the game spans more than five decades, having first been appointed as HKFA Council Member in 1973.
During his 26-year tenure as President of HKFA from 1997 to 2023, he ushered in an era of significant progress, professionalism, and strategic reforms. His invaluable advice also benefited the AFC Executive Committee from 2018 to 2019, and he continues to serve as a member of the AFC Dream Asia Foundation Board of Trustees.
A strong advocate for future generations of players and fans, he championed the landmark Phoenix Project in 2011, which established elite youth football academies and launched the Hong Kong Premier League in 2014. His visionary leadership also generated new income streams from both public and private sectors and spearheaded crucial infrastructure upgrades, allowing the beautiful game to thrive in Hong Kong, China.
Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC President, remarked: “Having dedicated 52 years of his life to the development of football and sports, it is truly a privilege for us to celebrate the irreplaceable contributions of our dear friend HKFA Honorary President Timothy Fok.
“Taking a moment to reflect on our past, to see how far we have come over the decades, we owe a deep sense of gratitude to all those who laid the path before us, and HKFA Honorary President Timothy Fok takes his place as a true Asian icon who has dedicated a lifelong journey to empower and enrich individuals and communities through football and sports.”
Timothy was also instrumental in establishing the Guangdong–Hong Kong Cup in the 1970s, which not only contributed to Hong Kong, China’s golden era in the subsequent decade but also facilitated the re-entry of the People's Republic of China into global football.
In September 1974, he accompanied his late father, the esteemed FIFA Order of Merit recipient Henry Fok Ying Tung, to the AFC Congress in the Islamic Republic of Iran to successfully mediate the restoration of China PR’s seat in the AFC and eventually in FIFA five years later.
Beyond football, Timothy's enduring impact and leadership are extensive and significant. He remains an Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after serving for over 15 years as a member, playing a leading role in numerous IOC Commissions. For his distinguished service to global sport, he received the Olympic Order (Silver) from the IOC in 2018.
As Senior Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia, he has left a profound legacy on Asian sport and played a central role in the success of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games, serving as a member of the FIFA Organising Committee for the Olympic Football Tournaments.
The AFC President added: “Even as we applaud Honorary President Timothy Fok, perhaps most heartening of all is his willingness and dedication to continue serving Asian football. He is truly an inspiration to all of us, and we look forward to his steadfast contributions in the coming years.”
Honorary President Timothy Fok is the 18th recipient of this esteemed accolade, which is the most prestigious AFC award bestowed annually upon an individual for exemplary contributions towards the development and promotion of football, on and off the field across Asia, as selected by the AFC Executive Committee.
He joins FIFA President Gianni Infantino (2023), the late Saoud Al-Mohannadi from Qatar (2022), the then King of Malaysia and current Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah (2019) and former Acting President of the AFC Zhang Jilong of China PR (2018) as some of the most recent luminaries to be conferred with the AFC Diamond of Asia.
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