The AFC has one of the largest continental competitions in the world: AFC Champions League, AFC Cup. Unfortunately it’s not competing like it.
Firstly, the AFC’s second tier continental competition, the AFC Cup, seems like it is specifically allocated to teams from countries that are lower-ranked – just to give them a go so they don’t feel left out. It’s like a participation medal.
The AFC Champions League on the other hand is like an East versus West battle were it is almost exclusively Japan or South Korea against the UAE, Iran or Saudi Arabia.
Yes, there are some significant flaws at hand for the AFC to sort out if it wants to be more fair, balanced and most importantly, more competitive.
Scrap the East versus West regional divide
Clearly the most powerful region in Asia is the Eastern, however, it feels like the only teams who benefit from this system are the most financially just and powerful clubs in both regions.
The likes of Shanghai SIPG, Guangzhou Evergrande, Jeonbuk Hyundai, Al-Ahli, etc.
If a system whereby teams from both regions are to play in the group and knockout phases it would diversify, balance the quality, and adjust the unequal power of some of the teams within it. As for the travel, I suspect the fixtures should be moved to suit the teams and their leagues.
Adelaide United struggled in the Asian Champions League. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Allocation of places to replicate that of Europe
Unfortunately, as mentioned above, the more financially backed, just, and stable a club is the more likely they are to win the AFC Champions League.
The same could be said about the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Libertadores. But, with so many countries, the allocation system within the AFC is extremely flawed.
With roughly a similar number of countries, Asia should be moving towards a European system that is more fair, and, rewards countries that win, or, succeed in a tournament. This would also have to include changing the rankings of clubs to match that of Europe as well.
Making the ‘second tier’ competition an actual second tier competition (AFC Cup)
As mentioned above, Asia has roughly the same number of countries within it as Europe. The population is much larger but the passion for football is still there. This is why rewarding talented football clubs throughout Asia would benefit the continent massively.
This is where the ‘second tier’ competition comes in. The AFC Cup is the unofficial equivalent of the UEFA Europa League in Europe. However, it has been allocated to much smaller teams in countries who are less skilled than those of China, Japan, etc.
This has hampered the potential of the second tier competition as it could benefit the teams in countries that would thrive if challenged by better opposition. Teams that aren’t good enough to qualify to the AFC Champions League are forced to play a dull competition against teams around Southeast Asia, the middle-east, or South Asia.
The best team in Malaysia may not beat the best team in China, but they may beat the sixth best. And that is sure to be more of a success than what is currently being pitched as the ‘second tier’?
Asian football still has a long way to go, but if steered in the right direction, and given better competition, Asia can become much more competitive and balanced.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The current format has too many sides from too few countries. Limiting the number of sides from the big leagues to two and filling the space with the champions from next tier nations would do much to spice up the competition, particularly when enthusiastic crowds from places such as Indonesia are thrown into the mix.
Evan Askew
Guest
I agree wholeheartedly with the proviso that it is only the teams that win the premiership that get to compete in it. They can have an Asian equivalent of the pre champions league UEFA cup for the best of the rest. Plus a cup winners cup. It would surely be more affordable for the clubs taking part. The knockout format is more exciting and it gives a better chance to smaller teams of winning the competition which is better for the Asian game. Imagine if a club from Thailand or the Phillipines was to pull of an upset over one of the gianst from China, South korea or Japan. Just like what Europe used to have with Aberdeen knocking off Bayern and Real Madrid to win the European cup winners cup, Or Celtic beating Internazionale to win the European cup. IFK Goteborg winning 2 Uefa cups in the 80s. Malmo getting to the final of the European cu in 1979.
Waz
Roar Rookie
The group stages need to be scrapped and replaced with a two-legged home/away fixture, exactly how the European Cup started out. Groups were only introduced after the competition became popular, not before it did.
Matsu
Roar Rookie
Not going to happen. What you seem incapable of understanding is the effect on the body of international air travel. Quite simply . . . it cant be done. Even under the current East-West setup, teams have to decide to either send a half-strength (or less) team to every away ACL match, or accept that they will lose their next subsequent league contest. In Europe, the LONGEST away trip a team faces is going to be roughly 4-5 hours flight distance. In East Asia, 10-hour flights are already common, and if you have to play a team in West Asia, the travel time can rise to 16 hours or more… one way! Flying 10-12 hours by plane, playing a match, flying another 10-12 hours and then playing a League match 3-4 days later is not something the human body can cope with. Anyone who has done long-distance travel on business can attest to this. The data speaks for itself — In the J.League, ACL participation typically costs a team 3-5 positions in the domestic table. In Korea the deficit is slightly less because of less parity, but rarely can a team finish in the top three (KLeague) if they progress far in the ACL knockout stages. Evergrande in their first ACL title year is the only team that has EVER won its domestic competition in the same year they won the ACL. Money is a problem, it is true. But no amount of money or adjustment of pools can address the insurmountable issue posed by Asia’s geography. The ACL is . . . and always will be . . . a roll of the dice and a chance for publicity, rather than a legitimate sporting competition. Until you can design a way to get from Perth to Sapporo in less than 4 hours, that is always going to be the case.
HLCY
Guest
The travel is one of the main reasons for the split. Aussie Clubs are barely fit after all those travelling to Japan, China, Korea, etc, let alone west asia. Believe me, the split do us a lot of good actually. Not to mentioned the amount of recovery needed for travelling between time zones And no, even though the European model seems to be something that we want to strive towards, it is simply impractical due to the very same reason: distance and time zeons. IMO, West Asia and East Asia should be split into 2 difference Confederations, both of equal standing under FIFA, and each with its own Continental Competition. Just like the CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. Right now, East Asia only has 16 slots in the ACL. If East Asia is a Confederation on its own, we can expand it to 32 teams filled with teams from East Asia: probably more places for each nation, and more representations from the lower-ranked nations. And not to mention the potential we'd have as a confederation. Obviously this 'East Asia Football Confederation' would include East Asia nations and South East Asia nations, and like wise for West Asia in the 'West Asia Football Confederation', the 2 regions in between, Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Iran, etc) and South Asia (India, Pakistan, etc) would have to pick a side. And geography wise, 'East Asia Football Confederation' would include South Asia. As a football confederation, we'd have 3 of the top 5 most populous nations in the world in our Confederation (China, India, Indonesia). Indonesia is obviously football mad, China is obviously making big big strides, and India is a sleeping giant that is waiting to be woken up. Think about the exposure our clubs will get. I honestly think this would be the best way forward. As for the current ACL model, i do prefer the previous format: teams are split into east and west in group stage, but converge in the quarter final stage following the break after round of 16. If you look back into past finals, this old format usually resulted in 2 East Asian Clubs meeting each other in the final. I guess West Asia didn't like that, and so citing distance, the push the convergence stage to the Final, ensuring that there will always be a West Asia club in the Final. But it didn't work. The last time West Asia won the ACL was back in 2011. Since then, it's pretty much East Asia. I say we ditch them and form our own confederation as mentioned above.
Nick Symonds
Guest
LE FONDRE: 'THIS IS WHY I CAME OUT HERE' "Continental debutant Adam le Fondre says facing the likes of Hulk and Oscar in Asia's showpiece tournament was one of his reasons for coming Down Under." - https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/le-fondre-this-is-why-i-came-out-here-523694 - I guess that's one way to attract foreign players to the A-League, by highlighting the ACL.
Franko
Guest
Prize money is the big issue with ACL. Something has gone wrong with the setup when Shanghai can pay Oscar $27M yet in the group stages most clubs are left out of pocket, even the winners.