In May of this year a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) seeking to improve cooperation to enhance football in both confederations.
This in itself was a welcome development though not entirely unusual as these are the types of agreements that regional bodies in all fields make and the AFC has such MOUs with other confederations.
It is reasonable to assume that the FFA was aware of the drafting of the MOU and principle agreement before the extension of the Wellington Phoenix license in late February.
What is different was a follow-up meeting between the OFC and AFC on the 30th of August which sought to turn the MOU into a real and actionable document.
According to the AFC the meeting “covered the key areas of competitions, club licensing, development pathways, player development, referees, media and social responsibility, with both sides sharing views on best practice and agreeing to establish a timeline for continuing the dialogue.”
Importantly there has been a softening of the positions of some of the AFC’s Western members.
The Kuwait FA is embroiled in Kuwaiti family politics and is focused on its own efforts to have its AFC/FIFA ban lifted, a ban that was reinforced this week. The Qatar FA are seeking more friends to discourage any threat to its hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
Even Bahrain, whose loss to the All Whites for the 2010 World Cup qualification put strains on the A-League, have been courted by the OFC with Bahraini outfit Busaiteen participating in last year’s OFC President’s Cup.
The AFC are wary of the reputation damage that recent FIFA scandals have caused and are keen to be seen as a positive contributor towards social and economic development. Assisting a small confederation such as the OFC through cooperation is part of the process of addressing this concern.
For those who envisage the OFC joining the AFC or some other such mooted merger you will be disappointed.
Equally those hoping for a wholesale opening of AFC competitions to the OFC had also best temper expectations.
The MOU looks at three main areas, being:
A. Competitions: Forming the basis for possible future competitions between representative teams of the Confederations, which could contribute for mutual benefits of a technical and economic nature through national team football and club competitions, including national, club and representative teams having the opportunity to tour or host teams from both Confederations.
B. Education: Aimed at the promotion of football through the exchange of knowledge, experience and resources, and through the technical and administrative training of the Confederations.
C. Development: Developing the game of football with mutual cooperation between the confederations with the view that both the confederations must raise the standard of the game through solid development plans and strategies.
So what does all this mean?
For the FFA it means a softening of the stance in relation to the participation of Wellington Phoenix in the A-League. This will solidify the club’s position in the A-League and opens the possibility of the acceptance of the Phoenix into AFC run competitions.
It also means that the chances of Auckland City being seen in regional competitions has increased dramatically.
It is far too early to say that a club from Auckland or elsewhere in Oceania has come into play for A-League expansion, but for proponents of such a franchise this will be seen as a positive.
In all it is an interesting development and one that the FFA would do well to keep a very close eye upon.
Hammerhead
Guest
Funny all this talk about TV deals and the Nix. I remember being on holidays in Christchurch in late 2002 and I flicked through the Sky Sports TV guide. I discovered that all Kingz games (home and away) were being shown on Sky Sports. I couldn't watch Perth Glory on TV in my own country yet I could watch them in New Zealand?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Good question. They have been using Tehran however since Iran is in their group that option is off the table.
AZ_RBB
Guest
It's a real shame that Iraq are in this situation. But we all know that it's much bigger than football. Hope Iraq gets a good win. They'll play their other 'home' matches in Tehran including the game against Aus Not sure if Syria will play all matches in Malaysia?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
If you want to catch the highlights packages for each game then go to http://the-afc.com/video. You can see how close China came to making it 3-3!
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I wasn't aware they were playing in Malaysia. I had assumed Iraq would be playing in Iran again however the tensions between Saudi and Iran means that the Saudi government will not allow their national team to travel to Iran for matches (there was a big issue in relation to this in the previous round).
AZ_RBB
Guest
It's no surprise that football is the world game. But it still blows me away how huge some of these matches are in relatively obscure parts of the football world. Some of the most passionate football fans wouldn't have a clue that there are these enormous matches going on around the world. The passion of the fans is truly special. But sadly there is still a very EPL-centric view taken by most of the footballing world. Also did you know that ALeague great Antony Golec is now playing in Iran for Tehran giants Persepolis? He plays his first Tehran Derby in 2 weeks. That'll put some hair on his chest :P
Midfielder
Guest
Flares as well.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkKi27vHjqo
Midfielder
Guest
Thanks AZ
AZ_RBB
Guest
Just some observations from the first matchday in the AFC WCQs Iran v Qatar. 80k at the magnificent Azadi Stadium. Scoreless til the 94th minute when a keeping error lead to a very controversial goal. Benches cleared and utter chaos ensued leading to additional 5mins of injury time. Iran finished off the game with another goal in the 110th minute. Iran 2-0. South Korea v China. Big crowd over 50k to watch a very talented South Korean side take a 3-0 lead but almost mowed down by the Chinese. 3-2 in the end. Saudi Arabia v Thailand. Thais denied a number of fairly clear penalties in this game in Riyadh. Saudis escaped with a scrappy 1-0 win. Interesting to see Malaysia hosting 2 WCQs midweek as Syria and Iraq are forced to move. Also October 11 will see two of Asia's biggest rivalries play out with Iran hosting South Korea and Australia playing Japan at Docklands.
Hulk
Guest
No what irked me was Jeff's nonsensical bemusement that those against foreign clubs are "interestingly" for Wollongong and Canberra. I don't see any link. Again his point is negligible and frankly bewildering. He hasn't backed up his weird comment. He should probably back-up his comments first, Unless your fine with qualifying his vague non-point. "So what does all this mean? For the FFA it means a softening of the stance in relation to the participation of Wellington Phoenix in the A-League. This will solidify the club’s position in the A-League and opens the possibility of the acceptance of the Phoenix into AFC run competitions. It also means that the chances of Auckland City being seen in regional competitions has increased dramatically. It is far too early to say that a club from Auckland or elsewhere in Oceania has come into play for A-League expansion, but for proponents of such a franchise this will be seen as a positive. In all it is an interesting development and one that the FFA would do well to keep a very close eye upon." Well, aside from you drawing reference to it "sweetening" wellingtons position, and drawing links to auklands re-inclusion.. Yes any talk about NZ threatens the wolves, SMFC, green gully, bentliegh greens, Brisbane strikers..shall I go on?
Waz
Guest
A NZ derby? That would be like an Australian "derby" between Brisbane and a Sydney side, unless Wellington can support two teams?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Football certainly has a far larger following in Oceania than many realise.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Certainly I can see the winner of OFC competitions and OFC composite sides competing in various AFC under age and developmental tournaments. Whether this starts a trend in terms of a slow merger is an interesting question that only time can answer.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I'd like to see the Wolves in, however that will be a matter of whether South Sydney or the Shire get a team up first. As Jeff noted, actions derived from this MOU are not going to affect the Wolves' A-League ambitions one way or the other.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I quite like Lautoka. The town up the road, Ba, used to have a kiosk that had been fashioned into a large football that you'd pass on the way into town. Whilst there are a number of progressive members in the OFC, there are too many for whom a merger would entail disembarking the gravy train. The current President, David Chung, has done a lot for football in PNG and I assume is one of the principle drivers of the current approach.
Griffo
Roar Guru
With 700-odd football clubs competing in the FFA Cup this year my reasoning of NPL-level teams taking the next step in professionalising their operations as well as forming a national NPL doesn't change. These same clubs, allowed to grow in such a competition over a number of years, could enter the A-League at some point if the FFA are short of a team or two in expansion. The context of my original comment revolved around previous discussions on a second NZ team in lieu of this MOU development. I've always hoped the 'Nix would gain an ACL spot to bring this situation to a head. It seems they may no longer have as much difficulty in competing in the ACL in due course, although again I think this needs to be tested. As to their viability in the A-League, their renewal of licence recently means that isn't as big an issue as it was before hand, although given they don't have the same licence extension as the other nine A-League clubs, the 'Nix have more to prove their viability of remaining in the A-League long term. Their existential crisis was a long time looming with their licence expirary, and will come around again in a few seasons time when their metrics and 'what they bring to the A-League' will be asked again. Should they fail, what then in terms of replacing them? With expansion using Australian teams seemingly a difficult task right now without all clubs consolidating their financial operations, you generally get the impression that should the 'Nix have been booted out a 'tenth' team would needed to have been found fast to make this coming season a ten-team league (notwithstanding media negotiations). Hence why the 'Southern Sydney' club talk came to prominance. I totally agree that there are many options for expansion if needed: Wollongong, Canberra, another Melbourne/Geelong based team... ...but we know the largest possible catchment area is desired as a key metric from FFA (where the 'fishes' are). Given our population and how it is clustered this maximising the catch in the potential fanbase net isn't going to last long, meaning the FFA are going to have to reconsider their criteria for expansion of the A-League. Better to prepare now when there is time to explore and plan, than be reactive when the crisis hits the game full on and a quick reactive fix is required.
CG2430
Guest
Steady on. New Zealand hasn't produced a decent TV deal for the A-League yet, the Wellington Phoenix have the unfair advantage with respect to visa players (ie both Australians and New Zealanders counting as non-visa to them), and the travel is ridiculous. Why support a non-Australian team which causes all those hassles? The AFC issue was just one reason for boning the Phoenix.
Hulk
Guest
"It is interesting that when we talk about expansion, most people do not want any more teams from outside of Australia, but they do want teams in places like Wollongong and Canberra." Huh? "What makes it at all "interesting"? Can't make heads or tails of this comment... Crazy as it may be, clubs from Australia should probably maybe receive priority over failed franchises from abroad who have no place in our domestic competition. Dunno if you follow Australian football (yes shock horror Australian football does actually exist outside of the closed and neutered top tier) but the wolves are ready to go, and are just as worthy of FFAs millions as teams from other countries are...arguably more worthy perhaps? #AusIn #NZout
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
This agreement between AFC and OFC has very little to do with the A-league. It is really about football across the island nations of the Pacific. It is a good thing for football, because we want to see places like PNG, Fiji, Samoa, etc become stronger football nations. The expansion of the A-league is really a separate topic. It is interesting that when we talk about expansion, most people do not want any more teams from outside of Australia, but they do want teams in places like Wollongong and Canberra.
Hulk
Guest
So they're doing this as to 'not look bad'?. "Addressing the concern". Ridiculous. Dunno if that's the authors "stretched" extrapolation of facts or actual rhetoric from some brainiac at AFC. So they're the white knight of global football - dumping Oceania on us. Noble. The fact that anyone in their right mind would consider another foreign city (Auckland) before Wollongong, south Melbourne or, hello, the capital city of "A"-League, is flabbergasting, and they should move to Oceania/stay the $&@" out of our domestic football discussion. Our afl-esque central and closed model has limited resources. The last thing we should be doing is directing those limited resources at foreign cities, who incidentally have ALREADY FAILED in our league. After this TV deal we better get someone in who actually understands football...and 'possessing a backbone' should be a prerequisite.