They say you must learn to crawl before you can walk. It is a saying the folk at the AFC would be well advised to take on board. The final of the 2010 AFC Champions League was played on the weekend at the National Stadium in Tokyo, between a team from South Korea and a team from Iran.
Whilst the AFC is to be commended for their work in reshaping the AFC Champions League, it’s time for a re-think on the neutral venue for the final.
The neutral venue works in Europe – distances are smaller, the competition is entrenched in the Football culture and travel is significantly cheaper – but in Asia that is not the case.
The AFC have got lucky, somewhat, in the last two years by the fact that two Korean sides have played in the final. The distances between the two countries aren’t that great.
Their opponents, however, have quite a distance to travel.
In 2009, Al-Ittihad, based out of the Saudi town of Jeddah, had to travel 9500km for the final in Tokyo. To put that in perspective, that is further than a trip from London to Los Angeles and almost the equivalent of a London-New York round trip.
It wasn’t much better this year either when Zob Ahan had to travel 7900km to Tokyo.
Compare that to Europe where the furthest a team, and consequently their supporters, have travelled for a final (in the last three years) is 2400km from London to Moscow in 2008. That’s roughly the same as Melbourne to Cairns.
Not only is it a disadvantage for the players, it’s a major disadvantage for the fans. Air travel can be relatively cheap across Europe, with any number of low-cost carriers to ferry you between the major cities.
Again, this isn’t the case in Asia. And this is the major reason why the AFC must return the final to a two-legged affair.
The fans are the ones who support the AFC Champions League, and this year they did so in increasing numbers.
Yet when it comes to the final, only a lucky few can afford to make the trip to Tokyo. Not the least because the finalists are only decided a few weeks prior.
The AFC Champions League has made many advancements over the last few years, yet getting fans through the gate continues to prove difficult.
Why then are the AFC taking away the opportunity for the fans to see the final live and expose a new audience to the wonders of the tournament?
It’s fair to assume that both Seongnam are Zob Ahan would have attracted well above their average throughout the tournament (5033 and 6949 respectively) had they had the chance to host a leg of the final.
The final of the AFC Champions League had always been a two-leg affair until 2009 when the AFC opted for a single-leg model to be played at a neutral venue.
Whilst noble in its endeavour, the AFC Champions League just isn’t at the level for a single-leg, neutral venue final to work.
The AFC is taking the AFC Champions League to a new world of professionalism and it is clearly going to take time to grow and prosper. Perhaps in 25-30 years when it has had a chance to do so a single-leg final may work.
But for the time being in the best interests of the tournament and fans, the final must return to the two-leg format.
David V.
Guest
The European Cup has had a one-off final from the very start in 1956. But for South America, Asia and Africa, there are far greater logistical factors- distance and cost of travel, real or perceived disparities in team quality, conditions, and so forth.
Nick F
Roar Rookie
I agree. I went to the 2008 Adelaide leg of the ACL, and to put it simply, it was amazing...for about five minutes until Gamba scored. But nevertheless we managed to pull through a capacity crowd that night (I was restricted to standing room at the scoreboard end of Hindmarsh). T'was a shame to see the AFC ditch the two-leg final. Everyone should have the right to see their team reach the pinnacle of the Asian game.
jimbo
Roar Guru
Yeah, could use it to the advantage of the spectacle. For example, team who scores the most goals in the Semi final or team that concedes the least number of yellow cards or team with the best goal difference in the competition etc - gets to host the one game home final.
Danny_Mac
Roar Guru
I think that Asia is still coming of age as a Confederation, It is massive geographically and in terms of population... I don't think 2-leg finals really work, because results tend to go the way of the better team over two legs, but in a final, with injury time and penalties, the underdog tends to have more of a chance of an upset, which is great for neutrals, and considering that there potentially 3 billion neutrals, not something to be sneazed at. A single leg final also helps keep the cost of running the competion down. the Neutral venue works well for Europe, where travel is cheap, and the two legged final works in South America where the demand for tickets is at a premium. At the moment, Asia has neither, so we need to find an "Asian Solution", maybe the single final played in the city of one of the teams could be a unique asian solution. Its what we've got in the A-League afterall...
jimbo
Roar Guru
I like the ACL and watched it with interest. I'll still watch it with a one legged, two legged or three legged with shorter middle leg final. The crowd was pretty good I thought considering that neither team was from Japan and one team had to travel 5 thousand kilometers to get there. The TV Audience was over 500 million. The 2 best teams get to the final and the best team on the night of the final usually wins it - what's fairer than that?
jimbo
Roar Guru
Thanks for your comments Seungmin. It must have been a fantastic night for the Korean boys and girls partying in Japan after your team has won the ACL - what a great achievemnet and you must be very proud. We Aussies had a soft spot for Seongnam as well, with the Big O - Sasa Ogenovski playing and captaining the team. I was proud of him too and look forward to him playing for the Socceroos in the Asian Cup. Maybe we will meet in the final one day.
jimbo
Roar Guru
Mindblowing? Robbie its based on the European Champions League and that's what the AFC and FIFA are emulating. The crowd wasn't that bad considering neither team was from Japan, but the TV audience was over half a billion. A two legged final would be fairer but there must be good reasons why they don't do it for the ACL and the ECL.
Seungmin Lee
Guest
Dasher, it have been quite often discussed already among Korean football fans and all the other Asian footie fans. So, as you well know, AFC noticed it well and changed it to 'Single leg, one of the finalists home' from the next season. I think it's not that 'unfair'. Two-legs final and think about the Champions lift the trophy in the Runner-up's home. It's not enjoyable at all. Single leg can reduce that possibility. Anyway, thanks to the decision, I could made the day of my life in Tokyo. It was first visit to Japan in my life also. Great, great night it was. It is an unbelievable experience.. traveling to support your team in the final of continental competition!
dasilva
Guest
I agree I think it's a bit of cultural cringe by the likes of Bin Hammen wanting to emulate Europe by having a neutral final and then one legged final without taking into consideration the unique situation in Asia. If they really want to look at other confederations for guidelines then look at South America who have a two legged home and away final for Copa Libertadores
Robbie Di Fabio
Roar Guru
Totally agree, the 1 off game to determine the final was always a mind-blowing decision by the AFC. The Asian and European markets are evidently different in so many ways, didn't they realise this before implementing their plans? The 2 leg final system is the best way in Asia. Both sets of fans get to see their team in the final, there will be full stadiums which will consequently having a positive reflection on the AFC Champions League competition.
Dasher39
Roar Rookie
Yep, I am aware of that The Special One but I still don't agree with it. Should've made mention of that in my blog. How is a one-legged final hosted by one of the finalists any better? It still massively disadvantages one team and provides a massive advantage to the other. A two-leg system is the only thing that is fair for Asia given it's vast size.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I still prefer the two legged finals, however the neutral venue concept was always going to be junked
Football United
Guest
good i'd prefer a single game played by the best performing team so far (most games won in group stage, most goals all together........). the tokyo game had heaps of empty seats which should be unacceptable for a continental final.
The Special One
Guest
FYI Kuala Lumpur: The Final of the AFC Champions League will be hosted by one of the two finalist teams in the 2011 and 2012 editions. The AFC Competitions Committee met on Friday here at AFC House and, under the chairmanship of AFC Vice-President Manilal Fernando, decided to discontinue the current practice of a neutral venue hosting the final. The 2009 edition of the final between eventual champions Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad was played in Tokyo, Japan, and this year again it will be played in the Japanese capital on November 13, 2010. The committee was of the view that if the grand finale is hosted by either of the two finalists it would lead to more fan participation and boost the image of the tournament. http://www.the-afc.com/en/news/29922-afc-competitions-committee-decisions