Doha:  In a move to continue to develop bilateral relations with various football federations within all confederations, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) signed a cooperation agreement today, Monday 12 February in Al Bidda Tower, Doha, Qatar.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of the QFA received Sándor Csányi, President of MLSZ, Sándor Berzi, Vice President of MLSZ, and Márton Vági, General Secretary of MLSZ and the MLSZ delegation in his office to discuss matters of mutual interest while stressing on the importance of building on the relationship between the two associations and developing it further in the future for the mutual benefit of both parties.

The agreement was signed by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of the QFA and MLSZ President, Sándor Csányi and attended by Saoud Al Mohannadi, Vice President of the QFA, Mansoor Al Ansari, General Secretary of the QFA, Ali Dawood, Executive Director of the QFA President office, Mushtaq Al Waeli, Executive Director of Strategy and Institutional Development of the QFA, Sándor Berzi, Vice President of MLSZ, and Márton Vági, General Secretary of MLSZ and MLSZ delegation.

The agreement focuses on cooperation in several key areas, mainly: technical and professional exchanges, national teams, exchange of expertise (including coach education and youth development), game development, player development and referee development. It will also focus on the successful and numerous experiences of Qatari football, including Aspire Academy and Aspetar Sports Medicine Hospital.

The QFA has signed the agreement today with the MLSZ as part of its ongoing strategy to develop football in Qatar and enhance its relationship with its various Asian and European counterparts.
President of MLSZ, Sándor Berzi commented: “I am happy to be here in Qatar, and amazed at the facilities and overall football management and administration available in Qatar. The successful collaboration between the Hungarian Football Federation and Qatar Football Association has existed long before the signing of the agreement as there is a referee exchange program in place between the two sides in which Hungarian referees officiate matches in Qatar and vice versa. The signing of the ceremony is just a formality for as our deep rooted relationship with the QFA has been in place for years now.”

He added: “We will make use of the facilities in Qatar especially since Qatar has great weather which allows to do our training camps here in Qatar during the winter season, while Qatar teams will also make use of the weather in Hungary during the summer season.”

We will have a stronger collaboration that will be specifically tailored for the youth teams. We would like to invite the Qatar U-17 national team to play in the U-17 international cup which we organise in Hungary every year. It will be difficult to organise any matches for the senior national team as there is a new European championship which makes it hard for the team to participate in matches or tournaments outside of Europe, however, we will keep studying the opportunity to organise something for the senior national teams.”

The signing of the cooperation agreement demonstrates both associations’ objectives to cooperate and support the development of football in both countries by organising training sessions and camps, friendly matches, development workshops for technical staff, and exchanging knowledge and expertise for the mutual benefit of both parties.