By Ossian Shine

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Asian soccer chief Mohamed Bin Hammam signed a $1 billion dollar rights deal with World Sports Group on Tuesday.

The deal gives Singapore-based sports marketing, event management and media group WSG rights to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) events up until 2020.

"Asian football is scaling new heights," Bin Hammam told reporters in the Malaysian capital.

"It is AFC's pleasure to renew our tight relationship with WSG, who were the first ones to recognise the incredible potential of the Asian game."

WSG have been commercial partners of the AFC since 1993.

"This is a landmark deal and shows what Asian football is capable of achieving." (Editing by Peter Rutherford) ((peter.rutherford@thomsonreuters.com; +65 6870 3817; Reuters Messaging: peter.rutherford.reuters.com@thomsonreuters.net. For the new Reuters sports blog Left Field go to: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/))

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