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The English Premier League plans to help develop clubs in Asia – including Australia’s Asian Champions League representatives – through “twinning” partnerships, AFC president Mohammed bin Hammam said on Friday.
The twinning scheme is part of an agreement on cooperation between the world’s leading football league and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), bin Hammam told reporters.
It could coincide with EPL matches being played in Asian cities.
“There will be a platform for our administrators and officials as well as coaches to join the Premier League for gaining experiences they have and knowledge they have,” bin Hammam said.
“They are caring about our success and we are also caring about their existence in Asia.
“At the end of the day, we found there is a lot of mutual interest between us.”
He made the remarks as he formally announced a new format for the AFC Champions League from 2009 on the sidelines of the Club World Cup.
The AFC Champions League will be expanded from 28 to 32 teams next year.
Thirty teams will come from 11 qualified countries with two to come from qualifying play-offs.
“I think the time has come to professionalise our football,” bin Hammam said.
The partnership accord between the AFC and EPL followed a recent bust-up over the English league’s plan to play one “39th” round abroad, possibly in Asia.
Bin Hammam had initially denounced the idea as he feared it would further hamper the development of Asia’s own leagues and national sides.
But he changed his mind and welcomed it after he was convinced that the Premier League intends to leave a positive “legacy” in Asia rather than exploit the lucrative region.
Bin Hammam said that Asia had always been concerned about whether foreign clubs would “come and collect the money and go” or if they would leave some legacy.
“Now we know there will be benefits for Asian football,” he said. “It’s not like an invasion.”
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