Asia has suffered a great loss today

After a long illness an ex-AFC general secretary Datuk Seri Paul Mony Samuel has died on Saturday.
Mostly operating in the Asian continent he started his career as a teacher, football player and a coach. As an football official Datuk Seri Paul started from early 1980s when he was appointed as assistant general secretary in FA Malaysia (FAM). From that position, in 1984 he became executive secretary in the organization, before becoming general secretary from 1985 until 2000 - also in FAM. Later he was appointed as FIFA's development officer in Kuala Lumpur. As a great football administrator Datuk Seri Paul participated in four FIFA World Cups in a row - from 1994 until 2006. In AFC he worked as a general secretary from 2007 to 2009. Datuk Seri Paul died in his native Malaysia from Parkinson's disease at the age of 71.
Out of respect in all next week's AFC Champions League matches on 19 and 20 April, it will be held minute silence.