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When Adelaide United admitted that coach Aurelio Vidmar wouldn’t be allowed to lead his team into their second Asian Champions League campaign this month all you could do was laugh or cry (depending on whether you’re a Reds fan or not I suppose).
For those who missed it, the Asian Football Confederation has ruled that Aurelio Vidmar is ineligible to coach Adelaide in the tournament due to AFC regulations stipulating that coaches for the continental tournament must possess an AFC A Licence. Unfortunately for ‘Viddy’, he has only got as far as completing his B license.
So now Joe Mullen will take charge of Adelaide for their 2010 ACL campaign. At least he will on paper anyway with United confirming Vidmar will still fulfil his usual duties.
It’s farcical really. Having to name your youth team coach as head coach due to your actual gaffer not having the appropriate license only he wont actually be doing any real coaching. Are you still following?
However, I’m happy to say that for a change, the blame shouldn’t fall at Adelaide’s door.
The implementation of the AFC’s coaching regulations is part of a raft of recent changes made to the ACL by the Asian Football Confederation to help professionalise the tournament.
Most of these moves have been good ones but the problems have come with the AFC’s blanket approach to implementing their regulations.
In this case Adelaide claim that that the reason Vidmar hasn’t got his A license yet is because of the time constraints that come with being a professional coach, including taking Adelaide through their first two Asian Champions League campaigns. Vidmar is currently halfway through a modified FFA course.
Unsurprisingly the AFC weren’t convinced. I say “unsurprisingly” not because of the paucity of Adelaide’s excuse but due to the AFC’s track record with dealing with this sort of situation.
Yes, Vidmar needs to get his license, but the AFC need to understand that simply refusing a coach permission to manage his team in the ACL on an unavoidable technicality doesn’t help anyone.
This case reminds me of the AFC’s determination that all “East Asian” games in the ACL must start at the same time. 7pm kick-offs might be ideal for the sponsorship haven that is Japan but the equivalent 8pm start doesn’t help family clubs in Australia like the Central Coast Mariners. Their crowds in the tournament last year were partly testament to this.
It also reminds me of South China’s AFC Cup stadium dilemma caused by the Hong Kong Sevens, or Indian footballs’ coaching license troubles, or Melbourne Victory’s fixture congestion. The list of teething problems for the ACL’s “brave new world” that could have been avoided with a bit more common sense goes on and on.
So now Aurelio Vidmar, who managed Adelaide United to the 2008 Asian Champions League final and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, is “unqualified” to lead his team. The only thing more ludicrous is the charade Adelaide will be going through to have their real coach in charge.
Its all good and well to model your continental competition on Europe’s gargantuan UEFA Champions League, but The AFC’s single-minded approach to implementing their rules has just made everyone look stupid. Including Asian football’s premier competition.
For a still developing tournament like the ACL, that’s a very bad thing.
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