BANGKOK, Oct 21: Malaysia, home to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for more than 40 years, will not submit a bid to remain host of the region’s soccer body because of its “excessive” demands.

Azzuddin Ahmad, secretary-general of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), said Kuala Lumpur would rather risk losing the AFC than agree to its unrealistic requirements.

“We won’t bid for it, why should we?” Azzuddin told Reuters by telephone on Tuesday. “Their demands are too excessive — diplomatic status, loans and more. They must understand they are not the United Nations.”

Malaysia and the AFC have been at loggerheads several times of late, over issues such as land ownership and the FAM’s reluctance to postpone a visit by Manchester United.—Reuters

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