FIFA would like to express our deepest condolences on the passing of former Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Datuk Seri Paul Mony Samuel, who died on Saturday. A respected figure within Asian and world football, Datuk Seri Paul passed away in Malaysia aged 71, following a long illness.

The Asian Football Confederation will pay their respects to Datuk Seri Paul’s by holding a moment of silence at all AFC Champions League matches on 19 and 20 April. Datuk Seri Paul held the post of General Secretary of the Asian Football Confederation from January 2007 to February 2009.

Datuk Seri Paul was also a member of the Panel of Instructors of FIFA in the field of organization and administration, directly involved in three FIFA World Cups, served as a member of the FIFA Organizing Committee for the Olympic Football Tournament and also held the role as Development Officer for the FIFA Goal Development Office in Kuala Lumpur.

He is survived by his wife Datin Seri Kristen Paul and son Andrew Paul.