‘Asia is the future of football’ is rapidly becoming one of the game’s most prominent clichés and with a lion’s share of the world’s population and growing participation rates, it’s no wonder.
The talk made its way to our backyard after Australia latched onto the continent in footballing terms and has only picked up momentum.
Pre A-League there was far less interest in Asian leagues and their players. There is still minimal knowledge about Asian football – Champions League aside – which is more a blight on the awareness of Australians than the talent pool across the shores.
With the Asian Cup creeping upon us, it is no wonder the FFA are keen to expand Australia into the globe’s fastest growing market place.
Fairfax Media reported on Tuesday that an Asian-only football visa is likely to be introduced in the coming years, adding to the Australian marquee and foreign marquee spots currently in place.
FFA chief executive David Gallop described the move as a no-brainer, although largely for political reasons.
“The details would need fine-tuning and discussing with the clubs but having a spot for an Asian player definitely fits with our strategic direction,” he told Fairfax.
“By 2020, it’s estimated 400 million people will be playing football in Asia. Football can help the nation build political and economic ties with Asia.
“The A-League would benefit from fostering opportunities for Asian players.”
The issue is particularly rife given the A-League’s lone Asian player – Shinji Ono – will leave our shores in May and there is the real possibility there could be no players from the continent playing locally by the time the Asian Cup rolls around.
It’s a valid argument, too. One of the most highly-rated players in Asia is United Arab Emirates’ Omar Abdulrahman, who still plays in his home country with Al Ain.
Club World Cup runners-up Guangzhou Evergrande have produced an exciting young talent in Kim Young-gwon, while 22-year-old attacking midfielder Wu Lei impressed for mid-table side Shanghai SIPG with 15 goals in the Chinese Super League last season.
Iraq’s victory in a competitive field at the recent Under-22 AFC Championship – seven years after their momentous Asian Cup victory – served to further reiterate what Asian countries can offer to the A-League.
So it is indeed bewildering the migration between Australia and Asia has been mostly one-sided.
But the FFA’s solution is not the right one.
Yes, A-League clubs should be looking to Asia more. No, this move should not be forced upon them.
At present, clubs are permitted five foreign players on their roster, which provides plenty of scope to sign an Asian player. Many have in the past.
Qu Shengqing (Adelaide), Sergio van Dijk (Brisbane/Adelaide), Ryo Nagai (Perth), Surat Sukha (Victory), Sydney’s Ali Abbas and Ono have all had successful stints in Australia.
That said, there is obviously a reason scouts have placed greater emphasis on signing Eastern European and Brazilian players.
If each club truly felt they required an Asian player to polish off their starting line-up, they would have done so by now.
An allocated visa will allow some A-League sides to unearth some of Asia’s young guns, but it will also force others to settle for a player that may not suit their system, or may not be of interest, just to suit the quota.
Western Sydney must surrender one of their five foreign players for their campaign which begins next month, while Central Coast only escape the rule due to Marcos Flores’ long-term injury.
The track record of Australian clubs in inter-continental competition is testament to the proficiency of Asian leagues with clubs from east and west proving troubling.
There is an obvious difference in the style of play on offer in Asia and one that A-League clubs could benefit from by poaching some talented players in due time.
But to say all clubs must have their transfer policy adjusted to fit Asia in by a particular date is far too restricting.
Furthermore, suggestions of a 4+1 system (four foreign players and one Asian player) could force a club to sacrifice one of its current overseas players.
The Asian Champions League’s 3+1 rule – which stipulates participating teams can only field four foreigners, including one player from an Asian country – already does this and somewhat provides motivation to look within our own backyard.
Further incentive to sign Asian players is the way to go, with clubs then enticed to look at those within the AFC without feeling compelled to do so if they do not find the right fit.
An allowance under the salary cap for Asian footballers would provide a greater foray into the A-League and see all parties benefit.
No doubt the Asian Cup will force a rethink of current policies regarding the number of local players in the league, but there is a big difference between considering change and pushing it upon unwilling clubs.
deebhoy
Guest
punter just an observation mate.its much easier to bag someone or belittle them as a devotee of another sport than engage in informed debate you see a lot of that sort of thing around here
The Bear
Guest
Young and ineffective. Yes, I was referring to those "couple". No probs with Adnan's presence. Regardless whose signing it was, it coincided with the Bakrie group moving in, and I correlate the two incidents. Just because we have links with Asia, and some clubs have tighter links than others, doesn't mean we should feel the impetus to sign them at the behest of policy, written or otherwise. Those two players were very weak links, however as was Issey, so not biased toward any nationality. Just want prudent scouting. It was brought up earlier that no decent Asian player would come here on what coin we could throw them, unless marquee or civil unrest. Just saying that this is set up for nothing but trouble. Policy that doe not stand up to reality, unfortunately.
Punter
Guest
Is there a subtle hint there deebhoy. Remember beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!!!!
SlickAs
Guest
Mate, how many good Asian players do you think there are? Some Japanese, South Koreans, Australians. Why do you think the likes of Beschiano and Holman are playing in the Middle East? You think the sheik that bought Holman could not have bought any squad player from Aston Villa? Holmans appeal is the color of his passport as he fits into the +1. When Bresciano was injured and they brought in Kewell as an injury replacement why do you think that was? When the Japanese team tripled Mitch Nichols salary when they could have bought an Argentinian of the Flores, Finkler variety for less, why do you think that was?
The Auteur
Guest
Mohammaed Adnan was far from ineffective. Great defender. Love to have him back. Those other two, Yuji Takahashi and Dong. Well Rado signed them of his own accord as far as I know.
deebhoy
Guest
I cant remember anyone on here ever beating the cattery in a debate.all you could do was bag him and the afl same goes for Australian rules
Jorji Costava
Guest
Will respond to all in one piece. No, I am the only Jorji and there are no Jorji doppelgangers swanning about as far as I know on this site. In regards to the pro foreign brigade swamping of our squads. # This Asian visa business is pure politics at work. Clearly the politically correct brigade wants to bend over backwards to curry favour with potential monetary benefits. A big maybe at best. Like, maybe I'll make an web startup worth millions someday. If we are serious about improving the league via the ringer route. Then bring in loads of latin Americans. They have style and skill. This is the downside of joining Asia FC. If we were now a part of CONMEBOL, the South American FC then we would have to get our skill and style up to their vaunted levels. Unfortunately, being nearer Asia due to better transport links, not necessarily distance wise. We actually have a lot more culturally in common with the latin Americans than we ever will in Asia. Anyhow, we are stuck with it so we better make the best of it becoming the 'Gulliver' of Asian football. # Excluding our own for Asian players. Why? Do they improve standards? Do they bring in the fans? Maybe one day, but at the moment. I cannot name a single world class AFC player. # Our league is to develop our guys to hopefully play for the national teams. We don't want the farcical NBL style setup where they used to just load the teams with 3rd/4th class US players and our lads would get the "supporting cast" roles.
AGO74
Guest
Unless Adelaide have a replacement lined up (unlikely given negotiations on extension are very fresh) I agree with their position.
AGO74
Guest
Song is an excellent example of the type of player that clubs should try to attract. He was a young player with talent who saw the A-league and it's more European (in comparison to Asia) style league as a stepping stone to a contract in Europe.
my left foot
Guest
In germany they have a cap of foreign players and a further limit on the foreign players outside the EU. So while not exactly the same, you would assume your hypothesis would be true for EU players, but no. It essentially would only work for world class players in their prime becuase there are fewer of them, so your Ozil's, Ronaldo's and Messi's. The lower in talent you go (I am not trying to be obtuse) the greater number of players there are, so I am sure the asain rule will have an unnoticed effect on value, it's only one player.
deebhoy
Guest
fuss I don't doubt that for a second mate I just don't go along with the theory that due to this its only a matter of time till the Aleague goes global and the ACL and Asian cups are on par with the European versions youre right,all the worlds biggest sporting clubs will want a piece of the Asian pie but the biggest clubs and players(in their prime) will always be in Europe putting population and business deals aside to call the Asian cup the 3rd biggest comp in world football is laughable in my opinion
Marchisio
Guest
I think you are right Bondy. I am under the impression TC is also using the alias "Stavros". The writing style seems to be identical.
SlickAs
Guest
Yes, I'm sure. The AFC champions league is uncapped. The 3 + 1 rule means a say Qatari club can take along 3 Brazilians or whatever, 1 Asian player and the other 7 need to be locals. That means they are bidding for the best Asian players to bolster their squads. Same with the Japanese, Chinese, etc. Australia adding an Asian Marquee just adds to the bidding war. So we get players that are more expensive than what we could get on the open international market by restricting to Asian. It might help in an AFC Champions league campaign but does not add to the quality of our league over if the second marquee were unrestricted in terms of nationality. A team wanting to do well in the Asian Champions League can choose to use that unrestricted marquee spot for an Asian should they wish though.
Bondy
Guest
Punter . Jorji is I believe The Cattery he's been using this alias now for about three weeks. Its not what people write its the overall mentality they hold.
The artist formally known as Dave
Guest
"The problem is that making a Asian marquee spot is a market distortion that it causes Asian players to become overpriced compared with equivalent players from outside Asia. Because if you get into a bidding war with other clubs that are allowed 1 Asian player it drives up the value of the best Asian players so they are actually worth more in Asia than they are outside Asia where such restrictions don’t apply. " Are you sure about that? Once again, no club is *forced* to have an Asian player. Clubs here are currently *allowed* to have up to 5 Asian players if they wish. In many of the other Asian nations they are *allowed* to have up to four Asian players (not being from the relevant home country). I can't see how allowing a marquee spot for an Asian player in Australia, 10 clubs out of how many clubs in Asia?, with no limit on wages, would have any significant impact on the price of Asian players. It would simply allow Aussie clubs to have a decent chance at landing some of the better players. If they can't afford one (or one they want), then they don't get one.
SlickAs
Guest
What FFA wants to do is erode the salary cap. The "Asian" part of the new marquee is just something to distract. Essentially what is good for the A-league is to have the teams in the big markets with lots of fans and lots of potential bandwagoners winning. This would naturally happen in an uncapped league as clubs with large supporter bases use their market size to buy on-field success. Another marquee spot allows rich clubs to further spend outside the cap in a quest to buy wins. All a good thing for the league and the growth of football in Australia. The problem is that making a Asian marquee spot is a market distortion that it causes Asian players to become overpriced compared with equivalent players from outside Asia. Because if you get into a bidding war with other clubs that are allowed 1 Asian player it drives up the value of the best Asian players so they are actually worth more in Asia than they are outside Asia where such restrictions don't apply. This Asian inflation is what pulls our players to East Asia and the Middle East. Ideally the FFA would just change the single marquee rule to 2 x marquee players. Of course this does not make for as good a press release as "the second marquee outside the cap must be Asian ... we are integrating into Asia".
JonJax
Guest
Quotas cause much angst – be they aimed at employing minorities in the civil service or increasing board representation for women in our public companies- but they work in that they force incumbents to move much faster than they would normally do so. The catchcry of the digital economy - “follow the eyeballs”, should be adopted by the A-League, as an Asian Quota will deepen our engagement with Asia and broaden the outlook of our captains of industry, encouraging them to partner with A-League clubs , using them as a bridgehead into the Asian century. Woe be to that CEO at a future AGM that has to rationalise not using their marketing/ sponsorship spend to further their companies long term strategy by engaging with the great middle class of Asia - because “Captain’s Choice or (CEO myopia) “, warranted all the marcom spend going to the club the “old boy” use to play for in the 50's.
Davo
Guest
I just had a look at his stats and they are ridiculously impressive! Sure he's not necessarily playing at the absolute highest level, but he's pretty much been consistent wherever he's been. Between 2004-2006 playing at Al-Khor, he scored 100 goals in 49 appearances! His goal to game ratios are pretty much around the 0.5 mark for every year and he's currently 30 years old. Still got at least 2 or 3 years in him i reckon. An A-league team should really look into him.
Towser
Guest
Will take him as a useful addition to the squad. Did alright before without setting the world on fire.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Off topic..... http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-29/adelaide-united-refuses-to-release-lustica/5225066?section=sport - some interesting drama here with Lustica.