Bizarre goings-on, as usual, in the Asian Football Confederation this week with AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam doing a complete 360 on his stated opposition to a 39th round of the English Premier League in Asia.
Hammam was one of the most vociferous opponents of the concept – which involved EPL teams playing a round in key marketing territories outside England – and there were few who supported it; I was one of them, it should be pointed out.
I thought the 39th round was a natural extension of what the Premier League was already doing in Asia and a signal of its willingness to counter the popularity of the booming Indian Premier League cricket tournament on the subcontinent.
It was also a defensive gambit against predatory entrepreneurs.
As I wrote back in April, “Was it really so bad for Scudamore to try to leverage the value of his own product before a Lalit Modi-style promoter (the man who invented the IPL) comes and tries to do something similar with EPL football?”
Hammam’s opposition was founded on a simple premise. The EPL wasn’t giving anything to Asia, just taking. And he didn’t mince his words.
“I can’t see the wisdom in the proposed plans,” he said at the time. “My recommendation to the AFC executive committee would be to reject any initiatives of this nature. And we would urge the AFC member associations to protect their own national leagues and clubs within their territories.”
Which Football Federation Australia, a lickspittle of the AFC, did in a flash.
Now Hammam’s changed his tune completely, having apparently been convinced by Scudamore that it wasn’t football imperialism at all and in fact an act of benevolence.
“I think the EPL are mature enough to understand that it is not all about money, but it is about what legacy they can leave behind them in Asia and how they can support other clubs and leagues in Asia to come up with their football,” he said. “This is what is now on the agenda of the Premier League.”
Of course, I wasn’t privy to anything that went on between the Qatari powerbroker and his English silvertail counterpart, but it really is something of an extraordinary volte face. Scudamore must have promised a lot.
And, crucially, it leaves the FFA in an exceptionally invidious position.
When the AFC made its original opposition to the 39th round abundantly clear to its member associations, the FFA was very vocal in its opposition to the idea.
Chairman Frank Lowy, not usually the spokesman for such matters, came out and declared the concept was dead in the water: “The bottom line is FFA rejects the notion of another country playing a round of their domestic competition in Australia and intruding on the development of the Hyundai A-League and the game in Australia.”
So much for that.
Now chief executive Ben Buckley is heading to the AFC Awards in Shanghai, scheduled to meet Hammam.
You can bet he will be returning home singing a markedly different tune.
Importantly, however, Buckley should take some encouragement from the fact that Hammam has demonstrated some pragmatism in this instance.
It shows that the whole issue of Wellington Phoenix being booted out of the A-League after 2011 is anything but a fait accompli and there must be some room for negotiation.
If Hammam really is fair dinkum about raising the quality of Asian football as he repeatedly insists he is, then he is doing a disservice to Australia, one of his most powerful allies, by eliminating a team that currently sits sixth in our national league.
Removing Wellington would be an act of utter stupidity and leave the A-League very much the poorer.
Let’s trust Hammam comes to his senses a second time around.
Redb
Roar Guru
KB, and I thought denial was a river in Eygpt. If you look close enough you'll see the residue of coconut on the left bum cheek right next to the koala bear tattoo and differential grease mark. :-) Redb
Koala Bear
Guest
Redb, c'mon laddie you're not suggesting your yachtie mate (captain) of your vessel is Doris, I know Doris, and that's not Doris and Doris tho not a great looking sort and president of the CRSL Ladies Auxiliary in charge of the Lamington drive for the 2018 World Cup bid whom appears on the CRSL banner of the URL is capable of changing a differential of a Toyota team bus... So please tell the truth, you're in love with Haans the Viking Sailor and just wanted to show the world of your romantic escape on the high seas from Melbourne to Whitsunday island.. Not that there is anything wrong with that.. laddie... :D ~~~~~~~~~ KB
Joe FC
Guest
Jesse While there is some common geographical area for Canberra/Sth Coast you seem to be ignoring the inland districts surrounding ACT i.e. Goulburn, Cooma, Yass, Gundagai etc. I’m not sure how much affinity the residents of these towns would have for a “Sth Coast” team. Also the driving distance between the two cities is approximately 230kms, a long way to go for a home game.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
"any idea on how long it takes to go from Canberra to the Gong ?? " Mid might be a bit closer than driving to the SFS. We already know where the 11th and 12th teams are going. The FFA have not really made specific noises about the timing for going to 14 teams.
Koala Bear
Guest
Oikee, gold is over $900 US an ounce on the ASX.. I suggest it's worth a lot more than you realise, because of the current climate of the world's financial crisis... ;) One last comment I have come across some interesting news .. Since the defection of Wayne Bennett to the Saints riding off into the sunset on the original Bronco horse ... Bronco headquarters have been advertising for replacements; for a new horse and an assistant coach... some of the applicants have been breathtaking.. Mr Edd the new Bronko's horse and Oikee your cousin Denis, the new assistant coach ... Exciting times ahead at Suncorp... :D http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu9QLZvhLyI&NR=1 btw I am pleased to hear you have decided to return to the ZOO.. :D ~~~~~~~~~ KB
Redb
Roar Guru
Ohh c'mon KB we all know that's Doris of CRSL fame and alledged flame of your life. It's Ok to admit it. :-) the question you have to ask is why was she on Hamilton Island?, perhaps to escape your fiendish clutches. Redb
Midfielder
Guest
Jes Let me think on that one that's 6 games each ......... The off the top problem I see is the gong become a team for southern Sydney both the beach & Western Suburbs much like northern Sydney providers the Mariners with some fans.... but will give it some more tho ........ any idea on how long it takes to go from Canberra to the Gong ??
Jesse Fink
Guest
Midfielder, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. To be honest, I think if the Canberra and South Coast bids were being smart, they would unite. It''s essentially the same market. The NSW "south coast" goes all the way down to Eden and takes in Batemans Bay, which is not far east from Canberra. You could have a united team playing home games in Wollongong and Canberra. Why not?
oikee
Guest
Thanks for the response K.B Just goes to show GOLD is not all its cracked up to be K.B i know your impressed with that League Cup, all the people are, dont fight it K.B embrace it. :) And we have a little gold one just in case you soccer holigans try to steal this one like the Union guys who stole this sucker before, why would you not want to steal it hey K.B, she's a beauty. Cheers mate, will leave you alone now, my storking days are well over.
Koala Bear
Guest
Oikee wrote: I love Boutique M.C you know i love that word, i just came back to see if K.B has read my only post. I know your out there K.B, i will turn into a storker if you dont respond. Oikee, I must say if you have not done so already, when you said you are going to stork me, I have to pin you down on, which form are you likely take, so I can greet you accordingly... Oikee Storker.. :D http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=pMLJo-fb9hI Oikee Bronco Storker.. :D http://au.youtube.com/user/storker?ob=1 A look a like Haans, the Viking Salior "Stalker"..... :D http://jessmo.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/old-lady.jpg Regla Australiana/Balón Juego Lads what a marvelous idea!! A Grooky Boutique Store for the laddies at Princess Park .. I am not sure where Oilkee fits in here. Is he the Storker in the Zoo? or is it the Bronco Stalker on the Whitsunday Marina with Haans the Viking Sailor on holidays with Redb ... ? Oikee, there are only two Gold World Cups that I know of, the FIFA world cup and the Rugby Union World Cup, all others are Aluminium painted Gold... However one must not forget the Clayton's World Clay Potty... :D ~~~~~~~~~ KB
oikee
Guest
:) Buying a frock, :-)
Redb
Roar Guru
MC, Dunno, maybe we should bring back Jeff as Premier and persuade Justin Madden to ditch Labour and the Planning Ministry and get back into Sport. LOL :-) Redb
Michael C
Guest
Redb - and that's the thing - - you can't work too much in isolation when the govt starts intervening in a highly competitive 'economy' (that of 'football'). Would a liberal govt have done it????
Redb
Roar Guru
MC, The intro of the draft pretty much ended zones for the VFL clubs, its noticeable in south-western Victoria from Portland to Warrnambool the Essendon influence from past years. That has waned in recent years. Good to see the Vic clubs getting together to sort out this stadium rubbish. I have no problem with the Vic govt funding of the rectangular stadium, but disagree with soccer or rugby league getting a better deal at lower crowd levels, - that's rubbish. Redb
Victer
Guest
Really over AFL issues being seeped over in to the football part of this forum.
Michael C
Guest
KB's probably down at the boutique buying a frock.............for his mum.............Doris,.................who's going out with Jimbo. btw - Pip that's why the AFL is after the State Govt to make some appropriate noises in favour (even just in principle) of a 'boutique' AFL stadium. Get that, and the AFL has an argument to TD.
oikee
Guest
I love Boutique M.C you know i love that word, i just came back to see if K.B has read my only post. I know your out there K.B, i will turn into a storker if you dont respond. :-)
Michael C
Guest
Pippinu - The "Ballarat Road Roos" - - how about play out of Skinner reserve out at Sunshine???? Certainly though, I've been a fan of Princes Park (whatever it's called), but, Carlton have demolished the old wooden stand and are doing whatever it is they're doing out there. But, like you, I can't understand why that was never earmarked as a boutique stadium. It's brilliant for about 20,000 out there, I'd attend NOrth home games and still get a car park after the game had started!!!
Pippinu
Roar Guru
MC and Mid I've always known about this issue, but I didn't understand the full extent of the problem till I read an article in The Age today. Incredibly, I find that my team, ol' struggling WB, supposedly on life support, lose $5 mill in comparison to Geelong because of its stadium deal. WB has more members than Geelong, yet Geelong is pulling in an extra $5 mill because they control their shitty little ground. Which makes me wonder - MC - time for NM and WB to band together and approach whoever looks after Princes Park. Get 25,000 in that ground every fortnight, and you're on par with Geelong. $5 mill per annum is basically the difference between going broke and thriving! How quickly would the TD management change their tune if that threat hung over their head? Is it an option? That's where the bullies were playing before they moved to the Dome in 2000.
Michael C
Guest
Midfielder - Just why it is so critical when talking of the Bullies and North, the main issue is that North can host 28K and lose...that's right.....lose money,...............they hosted the Swans, got 28K and lost $1000. Geelong down at Skilled host 24K and make $600K. That gives a clear idea of the chasm that can exist. And why Geelong is one of the best placed teams in the competition having such a distinct home ground advantage in more ways than one, and NOT being a 2-3 hour plane flight from Melb and over half of the competition. The fact that TD were willing to give MVFC a fixed rate deal that allows MVFC to attract low 20K's and not be going broke is example enough............that.............just as any regular person would exercise the right to seek a cheaper home loan, or a better phone plan........likewise, the AFL needs to assist it clubs to get a better deal. Unfortunately there's not many 'players' in the stadium market. And, the newest one is fully built by the state government and is taking business away from a privately built and owned stadium. WHo in their right mind would ever again contemplate a private stadium investment in Melbourne???? You wouldn't. The State Govt will provide a tax payer funded non profit geared stadium as your competition!!?!?! And yet, no state govt is willing to build a rail link to the airport competition to citilink. The irony though is, that EAstlink (the newest tollway) is losing over $200K daily. Perhaps, when they go broke and the road is still there............that the users might benefit..........(the investors won't). Perhaps, the same might happen at Docklands. The sooner the operators go broke the sooner the AFL might get their hands on it??