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The Qatar News Agency reported that Aspetar took part in the sixth meeting of the AFC Medical Committee held on October 2 at the confederation’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The session addressed multiple advancements in sports science and player welfare throughout Asia. Key decisions included recommending the Vietnam Football Federation as host association for the ninth AFC Medical Conference in Hanoi in 2027. The gathering also endorsed updated protocols aimed at enhancing safety for young athletes.
According to the Asian Football Confederation the recommendation will bring the flagship event to Vietnam for the first time as the ninth edition seeks to build upon the eighth conference recently staged in Kuala Lumpur. That prior event drew a record attendance of more than 800 international sports medicine professionals. AFC Medical Committee Chairperson Dato’ Dr. Gurcharan Singh said “Choosing Vietnam as our next destination underscores the incredible growth of football medicine across the region. Following a record-breaking turnout in Malaysia we are confident that the Vietnam Football Federation will provide a magnificent stage to showcase cutting-edge sports science drive Continental collaboration and elevate player care to unprecedented heights.” The conference series has facilitated scientific exchange and progress in athlete care for more than 30 years.
The AFC further stated that the committee approved the Heading and Safety Guidelines in Children’s Football. This step followed a proposal from the AFC Technical Committee at its fourth meeting last month which called for validation by medical experts before implementation. The guidelines form part of broader efforts to strengthen protections in youth football across the continent.
During the meeting the committee confirmed the Sejong Sports Medicine and Performance Center as an AFC Medical Centre of Excellence the AFC reported. The designation marks the first time a facility in the Republic of Korea has received the accolade. The center will serve as a foundational asset for professional player development and recovery in East Asia.
The Asian Football Confederation announced approval for the formation of an AFC Extreme Conditions Advisory Expert Panel. The panel will reassess current protocols governing safe participation amid extreme temperatures and air pollution. This initiative responds to worldwide adverse climatic conditions that increasingly affect sporting events.
Aspetar has deepened its collaboration with the AFC in recent years an arrangement that saw the hospital upgraded to Official Global Supporter status in April 2026 according to Inside World Football. The Doha-based institution functions as the official medical partner for major AFC club competitions through June 2029 and has maintained accreditation as an AFC Medical Centre of Excellence. Its specialists Dr Peter Dzendrowskyj and Dr Celeste Geertsema presented at the AFC Medical Officers Course held in the days immediately preceding the committee meeting.
