Rising Sun: Asia takes aim for Europe, and they're very, very serious.
Thursday, 19 March 09, 10:59 AM · Comments (0)
The UEFA Champions League is the unquestioned, undisputed standard bearer of world football. The second best club competition, which is actually the UEFA Cup, but for parody's sake lets say the Copa Libertadores doesn't compare in terms of pomp, circumstance, and most importantly, money. This puts into perspective the size of the mountain the Asian Football Confederation faces as it attempts to catch, and yes, one day pass, UEFA as football's colossus.
The Guardian's sports blog recently explained the length's the AFC has gone to in an effort to improve it's continental competitions, the Asian Champions League and it the secondary AFC Cup. A new ratings system (possibly modeled on, but not at all like UEFA's complicated coefficient system) has been brought into place to govern the allocation of spots given out. Unsurprising to anyone, Japan tops the list. The land of the rising sun was given four spots, with Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, China PR, Iran, and the UAE receiving the same amount (although the Emirates have to qualify one of their four teams). Other spots were given to Australia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Qatar (two each). Teams from Singapore, India, Thailand, and Vietnam get a chance in the qualifying round.
Quietly there have been small steps toward this goal on national fronts as well. Japan's J. League has been an incredible success while Korea's K-League (starting to see a trend here?) has benefited from World Cup stadiums and fresh investment. This year will see the first ever fully professional league in the UAE. Progress in China and Australia has also been very encouraging, and perhaps more notably, India continues to work out the kinks as the game continues to improve there.
There is money in Asian football, a lot of it. From a gas-powered Uzbek club rife with controversy, to a team pushed forward by the global dynamo that is Samsung, to the obvious oil money flowing through the middle east. The problem will be attracting big names without breaking the clubs. Ibraki isn't Madrid, and Jeddah can't compare with Milan. The solution may be in the grassroots, and I've often questioned how much of that money is put back into the game itself. Japan has mandated that all J1 clubs have fully functioning youth teams, this wouldn't be a bad idea for all of Asia to follow.
Time will tell as to whether or not Asia can mount a serious challenge to Europe's domination of the game, but no one can say they don't dream big, and they're surely planning to try.
And if you have a moment, please check out my friend's video. She worked very hard on it, and it's worth a look. :) Hi, Janey.
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Bobby
Charlotte, US
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