Doha, 11 January 2023 - Saud al-Mohannadi, Vice-President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC), passed away Tuesday after a long career in sports work and having a prominent presence in various local and continental sporting events, the official Qatar News Agency reported. The Qatar Olympic Committee, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, QFA, Qatar Stars League, sports federations and clubs in Qatar mourned his death through their various official accounts on Twitter, expressing sincere condolences to the Qatari and Asian football family for the loss of one of the most prominent sports figures.
In a statement on Twitter, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, QOC President, expressed condolences saying: "May God have mercy on Saud bin Abdulaziz al-Muhannadi, and may he rest in peace. He served his country with all sincerity and devotion, so our condolences go out to his honourable family, to all of us, and to the Qatari and Asian federations. We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return."
Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation, joined the Asian football family in expressing deepest condolences on the passing of al-Mohannadi, who was also a FIFA Council member. The AFC president recalled the distinguished journey of al-Mohannadi in the service of Asian football. "We have lost, with the passing of Saud al-Mohannadi, a dear brother, a loyal friend and a sports administrator who spared no effort to serve the football game in the Asian continent through years of effort, giving and dedication. Few esteemed leaders have touched our lives and contributed to the development of football than our dearest brother, Saud al-Mohannadi," he said.
Al-Mohannadi was instrumental to the growth and progress of the AFC’s competitions. Most notably, he played an indispensable role in transforming the confederation’s most prestigious men’s tournament – the AFC Asian Cup. Under his leadership as the chairperson of the Organising Committee of the AFC Asian Cup (OCAC), the AFC delivered its best-ever AFC Asian Cup in the UAE in 2019, which broke all digital engagement and TV viewership records.
“The AFC Asian Cup is undoubtedly one of the greatest success stories in global football in the last two decades and our dear brother Saoud was instrumental in elevating the standards of the tournament with each passing edition.
“On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the Qatari football community, the Qatar Football Association and the family and loved ones of Saud al-Mohannadi,” added Sheikh Salman.
In a statement, the confederation said the thoughts and prayers of the AFC and the rest of the Asian football community are with the family and loved ones of al-Mohannadi, QFA and the Qatar football fraternity during this difficult time of mourning.
For his part, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, President of the Union of Arab Football Associations, mourned the late al-Mohannadi, saying: “May God have mercy on brother Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Muhannadi, and make him dwell in his spacious gardens. To Allah and to Him we shall return.”
In turn, Yasser al-Mishal, President of the Saudi Federation, wrote: “My sincere condolences and sympathy to the Qatar Football Association on the death of its Vice-President and Vice-President of the AFC, and member of the executive office of the international federation, dear brother Saud al-Mohannadi. May God have mercy on him.”
Al-Mohannadi, who had a long and busy career with Qatari, Gulf, Asian and international football, began his football career as a club administrator and assumed the position of manager of the national team at one stage, before taking on bigger roles. Al-Mohannadi rose through the football administration ranks to become the general secretary of multiple Qatar Stars League and two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Sadd SC.
Shortly after, he was appointed as QFA’s general secretary in 2001, a position he held for more than a decade before being elevated to the association’s vice-president, holding the position until the time of his passing.
Al-Mohannadi had chaired the Gulf Cup Committee before the establishment of the Gulf Football Association, and he contributed with his great administrative and legal expertise, as well as his experience in the area of football regulations, to the success of the Gulf Cup. Keen to develop the most important championship in the region, al-Mohannadi's sincere efforts embodied his administrative competence and deep sense of responsibility to advance the game at various levels.
