One of the enduring benefits of Australia’s acceptance into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has been the improved opportunity to engage with other nations in the confederation.
Also, access to Asia’s World Cup qualifying route; regular matches against tough opposition in often unforgiving climates; battle-hardening our national team; and the chance for Australian clubs to compete in the Asian Champions League. There are even new financial and business opportunities to emerge out of regular contact with regional economic powerhouses Japan, Korea and China, not to mention the oil-rich states of the Gulf.
The dynamics of player movement have also been affected. Theoretically, Australia’s acceptance into the AFC would have opened the eyes of coaches around the continent, both here and abroad, to the unlimited potential this has for footballers in the region.
Half of this has rung true. We have just seen Luke DeVere, Iain Fyfe and Reinaldo cherry-picked by big clubs in Asia. Before them went Sasa Ognenovski, Jon McKain and others. Even Australians playing in Europe have been tempted by the riches and experience on offer in Asia and thrived, like Matthew Spiranovic, Josh Kennedy, Michael Beauchamp and Tony Popovic. Rest assured, Aussie footballers with talent (usually defenders) are not unnoticed by the scouts up north.
But what about player movement in the other direction? A look at the sixteen squad lists for the 2011 Asian Cup reveals some interesting facts and figures on players who ply their trade abroad. Predictably, Qatar (the domestic base for thirteen non-natives playing in the tournament), England, Saudi Arabia (nine each) and Germany (seven) – for various reasons – are well-represented in these terms. Money is no object for many clubs in the Middle East and West Asia, while the attraction of playing in a European country rich in footballing history is obvious.
But how many non-Australians appearing at the Asian Cup play for an A-League club? None. Zero. Dot. An unflattering statistic. What’s more alarming is the fact that the domestic leagues of footballing powerhouses such as Kazakhstan, Syria, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates have players featuring in the tournament. Cyprus! A country that size is lucky to even have a national league, yet its football environment and culture is obviously good enough for international-standard players to run around week-in week-out for half of every year.
On the world stage, middle-of-the-road teams with a cosmopolitan flavour often perform well in big tournaments. The best teams in Asia are at this level. A third of Japan’s squad is foreign-based, eleven Koreans play abroad and there are only four A-League players in Australia’s line-up. The integration of many footballing styles and cultures leads to versatile, quality football and players who are adept at mixing their game up and confusing the opposition.
It is no surprise that the four semi-finalists of this year’s edition have at least a third of their squad playing abroad. By contrast, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, who went in with high expectations, churned out entirely domestic-based squads and were disappointing flops. The development of the game in these countries could easily be stimulated by the presence of national team players in other – different – domestic leagues, such as the A-League.
Asian football tragics Jesse Fink and Mike Tuckerman have both written extensively on the limitless potential that could come from A-League clubs embracing Asian talent. There have been a handful of players from the north-east who have featured in Australia, kicked off by the mercurial Kazuyoshi Miura who had a guest stint with Sydney FC back in season one. Since then we have seen Zhang Yuning, Lei Lei Gao, Hirofumi Moriyasu, Byun Sung-Hwan and several others grace our fields, with varying degrees of success and durability. But it is the broader Asian land mass, beyond these traditional target areas, where the gems can be found at cut price.
More recently, Iraqi Ali Abbas has been recruited by Newcastle and Surat Sukha has turned out for Melbourne – a promising sign, but the overall numbers are still disappointing. More focus has been on recruiting South Americans and Europeans with a past rather than a future, and who usually command top dollar. As far as bargain basement buys go, A-League clubs can’t go past untapped Asian talent – and it is baffling why, to this day, the clubs have failed to cast their net into these areas. A promising Indian player such as Subrata Pal or the aptly-named Climax Lawrence would jump at the chance of a contract with an A-League club and some financial stability, while the number of opportunities for them to develop their football would dramatically increase.
Of course, A-League clubs have an obligation to foster local talent – one reason why there is a cap on the number of foreign players at each A-League club. All clubs should prioritise this. However, imports are necessary to add a bit of flair to our league, and in an environment where the competition is a hard sell and money is tight and precious, nothing is more painful to an A-League club than an expensive European or South American player who hasn’t come up with the goods. It boils down to a cost/benefit analysis: will expensive has-beens or unknown bargains be of better value to the club? We all like having Robbie Fowler here and he has been a breath of fresh air to the league, but one could mount a compelling case that our clubs would be better served punting on some fledgling Asian talent for peanuts rather than an breaking the bank for aging star or an unknown B-Grade international. If things don’t work out, it is much easier for a club to justify a cheap unknown who hasn’t done the job than an expensive flop (Romario, Benito Carbone and Edmundo Zura come to mind).
On the world scene, the A-League will always be a competition for developing players and second-tier stars, rather than the game’s true elite. But by opening its arms to the bevy of talent running around in Iraq, India, Thailand, Jordan, Syria and other countries, the local game may find itself with a shot in the arm at a low cost. Even if just a few diamonds are unearthed, the melting pot that is Australian football will have another strong influence, stimulating interest and energising the game, the fans and the media. This can only be good for the A-League and Asian football in general. How good would it be to see the other fifteen teams in the next Asian Cup sprinkled with the best foreign talent on show here in Australia week after week?
Call me a dreamer, but when the championship-winning Melbourne Heart and Iraq midfielder scores the wonder goal that puts his team into the 2015 Asian Cup semi-finals, we’ll find out.
The Doctor
Guest
Also players in west asia don't have a tendency to travel to different leagues within Asia let alone have a crack at Europe, look at Saudi Arabia with every one of their players playing in the Saudi domestic league. The quality East Asian players in leagues like the K & J League along with the CSL don't see the financial incentive to come to Australia compared to back home where they'd get paid double there then in the A-League, as well the cultural stereotype that the A-League is 'physical' put many off
ziphead
Guest
Call me a dreamer... well don't mind if I do. As far as value for money goes, sednd-tier player imports from South America or even Africa are way better option and lower risk. It is as simple as that.
Roarchild
Roar Guru
The attitude of Sydney Fc is never a guide for other Australian clubs, the club has bi polar syndrome and hardly ever backs up it’s statements to the media. Talk about Australian players being overpayed….. but most teams spend less and play better football Talk about the need for more foreign players…… but use there existing visa spots on rubbish. Only last week talking about the need for youth development… but now there fighting tooth and nail to be able to keep Brosque on the books and paying him big money (by A league standards). I can’t keep track of when their Bling FC or Community FC…which one is it this week? Anyway I don’t think we should condemn Sydney just yet until the story settles. This could just be robust negotiations. There’s a big difference between just mentioning Fifa action as an option to actually going through with it. If the offers from Japan are considered derisory and there not prepared to meet the asking price then they should stop unsettling the player and perhaps needed to be told to **** off until there serious.
Titus
Guest
Look mate, I'm really not the one to engage in this discussion with, but filing a complaint to FIFA is hardly a lawsuit or "calling their daughter a slut". I don't know what your interest is in all this but I suspect the Japanese are well aware of the business world and if they want Brosquey they will pay what he's worth and if Alexs contract says he can get out for $200 000 he would already be gone.
Matsu
Guest
"As a fan of Sydney FC I want for Alex Brosque, who I regard highly, the chance to follow a dream, but also for my team to to be compensated on its investment." Fair enough, but if thats the case, then you try to bargain with the club to get more money, and if it doesnt meet your expectations you poliotely say "no thank you". You dont go around threatening to file lawsuits and refer matters to FIFA. That not only makes you look like a spoiled child who cant accept anything that doesnt go their own way . . . it also ensures that your club will never deal with another Japanese club for the remainder of human history . . . . not even for a used box of popcorn. Hey, its not like this is a one-way street. S-Pulse lost several key players to richer clubs, as well. Im sure they would love to keep NT players like Takuya Honda and Jungo Fujimoto around for another season, but those guys got better offers from bigger clubs (Antlers and Grampus, respectively), and took them. Thats life. Maybe you just cant wrap your head around what a huge insult it is to threaten legal action, in Asia. Companies have foregone millions of dollars rather than damage their name with resort to a lawsuit. Even in football - in 2005 Kashima Antlers had a similar situation with Koji Nakata getting tapped by Marseille. Legally they could have blocked his transfer for up to three years, and forced Marseille to pay a hefty fine. Even OM seemed to be aware of the fact, because they belatedly offered to negotiate a "development fee". Instead, Kashima bid Nakata farewell on good terms and turned down offers from OM. In return, they won the respect of every other club, and every player, in Japan. I dont think its a coincidence that the club has become one of the J.League's most successful. Is it really worth earning the eternal disgust of every football fan in Japan, as well as the goodwill of THEIR OWN PLAYERS, in order to squeeze S-Pulse for a few more dollars? Because at the end of the day, thats all this "tactic" is about. Unless everything Ive seen up to now about the status of Brosque's contract is a lie, the issue is far too complicated to be resolved by FIFA. Itll be settled either by a final agreement between the two clubs, or by arbitration within Australia - thats a dead certainty. So this threat about taking the matter to FIFA is nothing but a classic dummy spit. I really cant understand what Sydney think theyre doing. A$600,000 ???? Heck, they could make twice that by playing a summer friendly against Brosque's new club. Obviously, now that theyve made threats about legal action, thats never going to happen.
Titus
Guest
Personally I would value Brosque at around $600 000, based on transfers payed to other a-league players and to the value of Brosque to Sydney FC. I am not a legal expert so I don't know whether the old contract is in effect or the new one is, that is for the people who get paid the big bucks to figure out, but obviously Sydney think they have a case. You can form your own opinion on the value and ability of a-league players but have you been watching the Asian Cup? I don't think Sydney means any disrespect to Japan but they have their own interests and they invest a lot of money into trying to maintain a professional football team which in turn provides Australian footballers an opportunity to become professional footballers and Australian fans an opportunity to follow a high class team. As a fan of Sydney FC I want for Alex Brosque, who I regard highly, the chance to follow a dream, but also for my team to to be compensated on its investment.
Matsu
Guest
Yeah I know. But Mike is in Qatar right now, and even if he happens to be keeping tabs on this story (which is unlikely), he hasnt been responding to his e-mail....
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Mike Tuckerman is the one to ask.
Nilan
Guest
Yeah I agree with you... Sydney FC hasn't handled the situation really well at all! It's a shit thing for them to go all agro and call for a law suit! They are going shit in the A-League anyway... maybe thats got something to do with it! This is what it shouldn't be like.
Matsu
Guest
Titus, If a player is within 6 months of the end of his contract, any club can approach him any time. According to the stories Ive seen, there is a buyout clause in the old contract, which is what he still is playing under. Regardless of whether or not the new contract stipulates three years, it isnt in effect yet. Legally speaking, the player himself could buy himself out of the contract and then negotiate with anyone he wants. The new contract is basically meaningless until April. We still have no idea what the time scale was, and it is even possible that when Shimizu "tapped" him, the new contract hadnt even been signed. But regardless of whether that is true or not, a buyout clause is a buyout clause. If that werent the case, then why is the AFP saying that Brosque can file for arbitration? Furthermore, from what Ive heard from Shimizu, they have been negotiating with the club for two weeks. There have even been articles in the Aussie press for over a week reporting it as a big deal for Sydney who were going to "cash in" and make big money. Why did Sydney wait until NOW to complain? Furthermore, Ive been told that Shimizu offered more than they had to under the buyout clause. Legally speaking, they could have had him for (lets say...) 200,000. But instead, SOLELY out of a desire to compensate Sydney and ensure that Sydney was happy with the deal, they offered 400,000. Does that sound like the club is trying to "undervalue" Brosque? Personally I think J.League clubs should just leave A-League players alone. The only ones who have been any good are guys like Kennedy and Bosnar, who were playing overseas already. But thats neither here nor there. The point I was making is this: If youre REALLY interested in trying to "build ties to Asia" you dont go around throwing threats about appeals to FIFA at the first sign of difficulty. Legalistic threats may be viewed as acceptable behaviour to people in Australia, but in most of Asia, that attitude gets you a quick trip to the nearest exit: " so nice of you to visit. Too bad you have to leave so soon. Dont call us, we'll get back to you . . . . . errrmmm. . . . some day.
Titus
Guest
Well maybe it's better if everyone waited to hear what happened before commenting But if Shimizu approached Brosque without the permission of Sydney FC, when Brosque has three years left on his contract, then that is against the rules of FIFA. Its a shame to offend the Japanese culture but rules are rules. Do you think Sydney should just role over and say, you are Japan you have heaps of money we are just a Mickey Mouse a-league, please take our best player with a few days remaining in the transfer window and considering we are about to play champions league football, and we will just try and make do and hope our team and our league doesn't go bankrupt. I suspect that the transfer fee offered severly undervalues Brosque and Sydney are standing up for themselves. Lets hope this gets resolved for the player the clubs involved and the goodwill between the two countries, but remember that Sydney FC has rights too.
James
Guest
why r u surprised about Cyprus? they have a great league with teams that have been qualifying for champions league football. hawar mohammed became the first iraqi to play champions league football thanks to his old cypriot club anorthosis, they even almost got out of the group stage.
Matsu
Guest
If the attitude of Sydney FC is any guide, you can forget about any future cross-pollination with Asia. Ive been following a story about Alex Broqsue and Shimizu S-Pulse, and over the past 24 hours it has taken a turn that really worries me a great deal., Id really appreciate hearing more on this story from someone who knows a bit more about Sydney, because if the facts are what they appear to be, Im on the verge of expending 2-3,000 words on my website to write a thorough excoriation of that club. The way I hear it, S-Pulse approached the club quite openly, made an offer for Brosque that met the requirements of his buy-out clause, and were told that it was "not enough." Two days later they approached Sydney AGAIN , with a second offer, which was also deemed "too stingy" (despite what I hear from sources in Japan that it was twice his original buy-out amount). After refusing the deal and having Brosque get angry at them, the club suddenly comes up with an explosive charge that S-Pulse "illegally approached the player", and publicly threatens unspecified "legal action" against Shimizu S-Pulse for having the unmitigated nerve to offer both Sydney and Brosque a ton of money. This despite the fact that the two club had been negotiating openly over a transfer. for almost a week. WTF???? Id love to hear a more detailed explanation from anyonewho follows the club, and if Sydney has any shred of credibility or any mitigating excuse on the matter, Id like to know about it. Based on what Ive read up to now, it seems that Sydney is now just one step away from permanently burning down any potential bridges between Australian and Japanese football. If they really do file a complaint to FIFA against S-Pulse, it will be the last time any J.League club deals with an A-League club on any matter whatsoever. I dont mean to make that sound "threatening", but this situation really worries me. Ive been dealing with J.League teams for over 15 years and I have to say .... the way the situation has been reported here in Japan, it really sounds ominous. In Japan, if you take legal action against someone, you might as well burn their house down, rape their daughter and call their wife a slut, too, because it cant possibly make relations between you any worse. If anyone knows more about this situation, please respond or get in touch with me via e-mail.
Jon
Guest
I would go as far as saying the FFA fear Asia as they can not compete with the region's investment dollars. The Asian syndicate that tried to purchase the Fury was shut out due to conflicts in investments. The Fury are the closest club to Asia and it would seem logical that if the FFA wanted to embrace Asia they would also embrace its investment dollars.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
There are a number of decent players in Syria who turned out a good performance at the Asian Cup who are playing in Syria on very low salaries indeed, around USD1,500/month. Jordan & Yemen also have some very handy footballers. Certainly it is a region that we would do well to invest a little more in re:scouting.