AFC askes Australia to enhance security for Asian Cup

After Sydney's deadly hostage drama, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Tuesday asked Australian organisers to enchance secuity for the 2015 Asian Cup.

AFC General-Secretary Alex Soosay said that they had asked organisers to provide extra security in team and AFC hotels as well as police escorts for all official activities including training and matches in addition to an increase in security across all venues.

Soosay said that thousands of media and fans, apart from players and coaches, would join the event, and their security was their utmost priority.

The statement was given after the hostage event happened early Tuesday. A Iranian-born Islamist had seized a number of hostages and held them in a 16-hour stand off in a popular Sydney cafe. The gunman and two hostages were killed. Six others were wounded.

The Asian Cup will be held from Jan. 9-31 in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne.