On 6 November, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter was in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur for the annual AFC gala for women’s football in Asia. Korea DPR’s Ri Kum Suk was named women’s player of the year ahead of Japan’s Homare Sawa and Australia’s Collette McCallum. Ra Un Sim, also of Korea DPR, was crowned as the young player of the year and Korea DPR were named team of the year for the third time.
Blatter then headed to Thailand for discussions on setting up a national league. Following the press conference, the FIFA President received an honorary doctorate in business administration in sports management from Chandrakasem Rajabhat University in recognition of his achievements and commitment to the game. Later, the Governor of Bangkok, Apirak Kosayothin, made the FIFA President an honorary citizen of the city.

While en route to the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan (7-16 December 2007), FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter stopped off in the Philippines to attend the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).
After a whistle-stop visit to Singapore’s Changi Airport, where he dropped in at the very first FIFA store (which opened on 16 January 2008), the FIFA President headed to Manila. His first duty in the Filipino capital was to attend a press conference with PFF President Jose Mari Martinez and the President of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohamed bin Hammam. “The FIFA family is here to help the Philippines to promote the development of the sport in a country that has a long footballing tradition,” said the FIFA President.
Two Goal projects have already been completed in the Philippines, the first involving the construction of a national coaching centre and adjoining pitches in 2001. This was followed in 2006 by the building of a stadium for Manila’s football clubs. To mark its centenary, the PFF also organised a gala dinner that featured a special ceremony to recognise the achievements of the country’s greatest players, among them Paulino Alcantara, who enjoyed two spells with Barcelona (1912-1916 and 1918-1927). The day after the festivities saw the FIFA/AFC delegation visit the Tuloy Sa Don Bosco SOS Children’s Village, where the PFF staged a special youth tournament.

On 10 November, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and UEFA President and FIFA Vice-President Michel Platini visited FC Siders to help mark the club’s 100th anniversary. “I played up front for Siders from 1954 to 1956. They were the best years of my playing career,” smiled Blatter, who enjoyed his flying visit to his home canton.
The 100th birthday of the Valais’ oldest club featured various sporting, cultural and social events. It all began with 30 volunteers creating a gigantic football out of 90 aluminium tubes. The special monument, which had a diameter of eight metres and weighed a ton, had to be flown in to Sion by helicopter.